1. TEODORO J. HERBOSA, MD
Undersecretary

2. BURN INJURIES:
A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM
• Globally a serious public health problem
• devastating injury
• the 4th most common type of injury worldwide
• over 195,000 deaths yearly from fires alone
• more deaths from scald, electrical burns, and other
forms of burns
• global data are not available

3. • Fire-related deaths rank
among the 15 leading causes
of death among children &
young adults 5-29 yrs
• > 95% of fatal burns occur in
low/middle-income countries
• < 5 yrs and elderly (> 70 yrs)
- highest mortality rates

4. • millions left with
disabilities &
disfigurement resulting
in stigma
• more tragic as burns
are so eminently
preventable

5. Source: Online Electronic Injury Surveillance System (ONEISS)
Department of Health, Philippines

6. Burn Injuries in 2011 peaked during the 1st Quarter of the
year and descended at the latter months

7. Burn injury cases peaked during months of
April to June 2012

8. • Significant increase in burn injury
cases can be observed during the
months of March and April
• significant decrease can be plotted
during the months of September,
October and November

10. Region III has the highest reported burn injury
cases followed by NCR and CAR

11. Most of burn injuries occur in the morning
(8AM- 12NN) and also during in the late
afternoon (4PM- 7:59PM)

12. Most burn injuries happens AT HOME…

13. Most burn injuries are unintentional/ accidental.

14. A higher incidence of burn injuries occur
in males than females.

15. Children ages 1-9 years old are more at risk to
acquire burn injuries

17. Hospitals with
Burn Units/ Centers
• 1. Philippine General Hospital
• 2. Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center
• 3. East Avenue Medical Center
• 4. Southern Philippines Medical Center
• 5. Quirino Memorial Medical Center

18. A great number of patients who had burn injuries
were alive upon reaching the hospital

19. Most patients with burn injuries are treated and
sent home while some are being admitted

20. Most burn patients improved after treatment.

21. JRMMC Burn Unit Experience
• A 7-bed specialized critical care unit dedicated to
patients with acute burn injuries
• Supervised by a Burn Unit Chief who is directly
under the Chief of Section of Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery with a Head Nurse, four
staff nurses, two nursing assistants, a plastic and
reconstructive surgery fellow and two surgical
residents

22. • The unit was equipped with 2 cribs, 1
bassinet for Pediatric patients and 4 adult
beds
• Baseline xrays, hematologic and chemistry
laboratory tests are done upon admission
• Close of monitoring of vital signs and fluid
balance are vital in the overall management
of patients
• Hydration and stabilization of the acutely
burned is the first priority

23. • Daily bedside debridements and regular
dressing changes are done within the unit
• Patients who necessitate formal
debridements under anesthesia are brought
to the Operating Room as required
• Topical skin and wound care is addressed by
application of silver sulfadiazine
(Flammazine) cream or cerium nitrate- silver
sulfadiazine and MEBO (moist exposed burn
ointment)

24. BURN TREATMENT
• The nature and complexity of severe burn injury requires a
collaborative approach to patient care. This is provided by
a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in the management
of severe burns in a Burn Unit with supporting services
such as: critical care, surgery, reconstruction and
rehabilitation.

25. • Bringing together the expertise required to
coordinate clinical services across the continuum
of care - from initial hospital admission through to
hospital discharge, rehabilitation and ongoing
care.
• Sharing clinical expertise
• Developing standardized clinical practice
guidelines for patient care
• Increasing the focus on prevention, improving
links to community outreach services for patients
and undertaking research to improve patient care
END