When a hero becomes a patient: firefighter burn injuries in the National Burn Repository.

MedStar author(s):
Citation: Journal of Burn Care & Research. 33(1):147-51, 2012 Jan-Feb.PMID: 22138811Institution: MedStar Washington Hospital CenterDepartment: Surgery/Burn ServicesForm of publication: Journal ArticleMedline article type(s): Comparative Study | Journal ArticleSubject headings: *Burns/ep [Epidemiology] | *Burns/et [Etiology] | *Firefighters/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data] | *Occupations | Adult | Age Distribution | Burn Units/ut [Utilization] | Burns/th [Therapy] | Databases, Factual | Female | Hospitalization/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data] | Humans | Incidence | Injury Severity Score | Intensive Care Units/ut [Utilization] | Linear Models | Male | Middle Aged | Multivariate Analysis | Patients | Prognosis | Registries | Retrospective Studies | Risk Assessment | Sex Distribution | Survival Rate | Treatment Outcome | Wound Healing/ph [Physiology] | Young AdultLocal holdings: Available online through MWHC library: 2006 - present, Available in print through MWHC library: 2006 - presentISSN:
  • 1559-047X
Name of journal: Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn AssociationAbstract: Firefighters receive significant training and are outfitted with state-of-the-art protective equipment. However, given the unpredictable nature of their work environment, injuries still occur. The National Burn Repository (NBR) was viewed as a resource for defining the epidemiology of these injuries on a national level and to identify predictive factors for outcomes in this population. The NBR was queried for the occupation of "firefighter" for the years 1990-2008. Records were screened for completeness, and 597 patients were identified for analysis. Data examined included demographics, %TBSA burn, length of stay (LOS), injury circumstance, and disposition. Multiple linear regression models were created to determine factors related to outcome measures. The majority of patients were white (84%) and male (96%). The mean age was 35 years. Most injuries were caused by fire/flame (73%). Only six deaths (1%) were reported. Most injuries were work-related (86%), and most patients were discharged home (92%). Inhalation injury was documented in 9% of patients. The mean LOS was 6.5 +/- 11.3 days (median 2 days), and few patients had critical care requirements. The average %TBSA was 6 +/- 11.7%. Patients with larger injuries had increased LOS. The presence of inhalation injury, elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels, and advancing age were significantly associated with larger burns. From the NBR data, most firefighter burn injuries were small, and few firefighter burn patients required critical care resources or had significant disability. Firefighters comprise a small number of burn center admissions each year, yet they are an important population to consider for burn prevention efforts.All authors: Carter EA, Flanagan KE, Jordan MH, Matt SE, Shupp JWDigital Object Identifier: Date added to catalog: 2013-09-17
Holdings
Item type Current library Collection Call number Status Date due Barcode
Journal Article MedStar Authors Catalog Article Available 22138811

Available online through MWHC library: 2006 - present, Available in print through MWHC library: 2006 - present

Firefighters receive significant training and are outfitted with state-of-the-art protective equipment. However, given the unpredictable nature of their work environment, injuries still occur. The National Burn Repository (NBR) was viewed as a resource for defining the epidemiology of these injuries on a national level and to identify predictive factors for outcomes in this population. The NBR was queried for the occupation of "firefighter" for the years 1990-2008. Records were screened for completeness, and 597 patients were identified for analysis. Data examined included demographics, %TBSA burn, length of stay (LOS), injury circumstance, and disposition. Multiple linear regression models were created to determine factors related to outcome measures. The majority of patients were white (84%) and male (96%). The mean age was 35 years. Most injuries were caused by fire/flame (73%). Only six deaths (1%) were reported. Most injuries were work-related (86%), and most patients were discharged home (92%). Inhalation injury was documented in 9% of patients. The mean LOS was 6.5 +/- 11.3 days (median 2 days), and few patients had critical care requirements. The average %TBSA was 6 +/- 11.7%. Patients with larger injuries had increased LOS. The presence of inhalation injury, elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels, and advancing age were significantly associated with larger burns. From the NBR data, most firefighter burn injuries were small, and few firefighter burn patients required critical care resources or had significant disability. Firefighters comprise a small number of burn center admissions each year, yet they are an important population to consider for burn prevention efforts.

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