Emergency Scenario 780_f2

Location Information

Full Location:

Hafnarbraut 12, 780 Höfn, Ground floor, single-story concrete building, built in 1985. Main entrance facing the harbor, no security features. Street parking available. Current conditions: 7°C, overcast, good visibility. GPS coordinates: 64.2532° N, 15.2097° W. Nearest landmark: Höfn Harbor.

Municipality: Höfn

Postal Code: 780

Emergency Details

Type: Burn Patient Transfer

Priority Level: F2

Response Time Goal: Urgent (15-30 minutes)

Description:

45-year-old male, sustained significant burns in a cooking accident at home. Primary symptoms: Full thickness burns to right forearm and hand (approx. 15% TBSA), severe pain, blistering, and edema. Secondary symptoms: Mild shortness of breath, anxiety. Patient is alert and oriented, but in significant distress. Burn area is covered with a clean, damp cloth. Patient is located in the kitchen of his home. Medical history: No known allergies, no significant medical history, takes no regular medications. Last meal was lunch at 13:00.

History of Events

Timeline:
1400 hours: Patient was deep-frying fish at home.
1405 hours: A splash of hot oil caused severe burns to his right forearm and hand.
1407 hours: Patient immediately ran cold water over the burn area for 5 minutes.
1412 hours: Patient covered the burn with a damp cloth.
1415 hours: Patient called his brother for help.
1418 hours: Brother arrived and assessed the burn.
1420 hours: Brother called emergency services for transfer to a burn center.
1422 hours: Current time, patient is sitting in a chair in his kitchen, awaiting transfer.

Prior Events: No prior burn injuries or significant medical history. No recent illnesses or injuries. Last medical check-up was 1 year ago, routine follow-up. Patient lives alone, but his brother lives nearby.

Diagnostics

Initial Assessment

Initial Impression: Significant Partial to Full Thickness Burns (15% TBSA) to Right Forearm and Hand.
Justification for F2 Classification:
- Significant burn area with full thickness involvement
- Potential for fluid loss, infection, and respiratory compromise
- Time-sensitive condition requiring prompt transfer to specialized burn center

Differential Diagnoses:
1. Partial to Full Thickness Burns (high probability)
2. Inhalation Injury (lower probability, no significant soot or respiratory distress)
3. Chemical Burn (ruled out based on history of hot oil splash)
4. Underlying medical conditions contributing to injury (unlikely given history)

Required Actions:
- Dispatch of ground EMS with ALS capabilities for pain management and monitoring
- Rapid transfer to the nearest burn center with appropriate facilities
- Continuous monitoring of vital signs and respiratory status during transport
- Pre-hospital fluid resuscitation as per protocol

Final Diagnosis

Final Diagnosis: Full Thickness Burns to Right Forearm and Hand (15% TBSA).
Key Findings:
- Burn assessment confirmed full thickness involvement with areas of partial thickness burns.
- Patient's pain score remained high despite initial analgesia.
- No signs of inhalation injury were present on arrival at the burn center.
- No other injuries detected on full examination.

Outcome validated F2 priority assignment. Rapid transfer to the burn center was essential for specialized care. Patient underwent debridement and grafting within 48 hours.

Learning Points:
1. F2 classification was appropriate due to the severity and time-sensitive nature of the burn
2. Initial assessment accurately identified the need for specialized burn care
3. Prompt pain management and transfer contributed to patient comfort and reduced risk of complications

Emergency Call Transcript

Dispatcher Emergency services, what's your emergency?

Caller My brother has been badly burned! He needs help!

Dispatcher Okay, I'm sending help. What is your address?

Caller It's Hafnarbraut 12 in Höfn. He's in the kitchen.

Dispatcher Help is on its way. Can you tell me what happened?

Caller He was frying fish and some hot oil splashed on his arm. It's really bad, all blistered.

Dispatcher Is he awake and talking to you?

Caller Yes, he's awake but in a lot of pain. He says it's burning terribly.

Dispatcher Has he put anything on the burn?

Caller He ran cold water on it and then put a damp cloth on it.

Dispatcher Okay, the ambulance is on its way. Don't try to put anything else on the burn. Just keep him calm.

Caller Okay, thank you. We'll wait here.