No ice, no toothpaste: Govt rolls out evidence-based treatment protocols for burn injuries

New Delhi: To reduce India’s high burn-related mortality rates and standardise care across hospitals, the Centre has issued comprehensive treatment guidelines that formalise first-aid practices and discourage the use of common household remedies, according to two officials and a document seen by Mint.The development assumes significance given the rising burn injuries—an estimated 6-7 million injuries annually and around 150,000 deaths each year—with women and children disproportionately affected due to cooking fires and flammable liquids.The new framework, to be adopted by health centres with immediate effect, seeks to replace India’s fragmented, hospital-specific burn care protocols with a uniform, evidence-based system ranging from first responders, primary health centres (PHCs) and tertiary hospitals.The guidelines organise burn care into four levels—pre-hospital, primary, secondary and tertiary—clearly outlining responsibilities at each stage to reduce delays, inappropriate treatment and avoidable complications.They address a critical gap where healthcare professionals often relied on a mix of personal expertise and conflicting protocols due to resource constraints.The effectiveness of burn care in India has been constrained by chronic shortages of trained personnel, essential supplies and specialised equipment, gaps that are most acute in resource-limited settings, impacting patient recovery and complication rates."Standard treatment guidelines are vital because medical science is evidence-based, yet currently, individual hospitals often follow disparate protocols. It is crucial to collate best practices to ensure uniformity," said Dr.