An approach to the management of hand burns using semipermeable membranes

Abstract

In large disaster situations medical staff are often presented with large numbers of casualties over a short period of time. In a burn disaster, hand burns are a frequent injury. We outline a method of protecting hand burns by the use of bags made from a semipermeable membrane. The ease of application and use, and the fact that, where appropriate, the patients and relatives can do their own dressings, make the bags particularly useful in a disaster situation. The bags have been studied in two separate studies, which will be reviewed.