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Impact of Pre hospital First Aid on Burn Outcomes: Insights from the 2024 National Burn Hospital Database
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Abstract
Background: Burn injuries remain a major public health concern in low and middle income countries, where limited awareness of first aid and delayed access to specialized care contribute to poor outcomes. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics, pre hospital first aid practices, and treatment outcomes among burn patients in Northern Vietnam.
Subjects and methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted among 750 burn patients admitted to the National Burn Hospital in 2024. Sociodemographic characteristics, burn etiology, clinical severity, first aid practices, and treatment outcomes were extracted from medical records. Associations between first aid quality and clinical outcomes were analyzed.
Results: The majority of patients were male (66.0%) and of working age. Thermal burns were the most common etiology (72.0%), followed by electrical (20.0%) and chemical burns (8.0%). Although 64.0% of patients received some form of first aid, only 34.7% received appropriate cooling with clean water, while 13.3% applied harmful substances. Timely first aid within 10 minutes occurred in only 24.0% of cases. Correct first aid was strongly associated with improved outcomes, including lower complication rates (15.4% vs. 34.7%), lower mortality (2.3% vs. 6.5%), and shorter hospital stays (14.2 vs. 21.0 days). Surgical intervention and ICU care were required in 41.3% and 24.0% of patients, respectively.
Conclusion: Burn injuries in Northern Vietnam predominantly affect working age adults and are frequently associated with inadequate or inappropriate first aid. Early, evidence based first aid particularly cooling with clean water is strongly associated with reduced complications, mortality, and length of hospital stay. Strengthening community education, improving occupational safety, and enhancing pre hospital and referral systems are essential to reducing the burden of burns in the region.
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Keywords
Burn injury, Epidemiology, First aid, Pre hospital care, Treatment outcomes
References
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