Treating burns in conflict zones.

Interburns recently ran a specialist training course with WHO for staff who treat burns in northern Syria. The programme was held in southern Turkey with faculty from the UK, Syria and Greece. Training was delivered in Arabic and English by a mixed faculty with expertise in burns, plastic surgery, physiotherapy and war surgery.  

While many burns in conflict zones have similar causes and treatment paths as burns in other resource-poor settings, there is an added threat of thermal injury from munitions and incendiaries and an increased risk of patients who suffer from other forms of co-trauma. As well as tailored sessions, the team ran a practical mass casualty simulation so that participants could practise effective triage when faced with simultaneously large numbers of patients.

Interburns would like to thank the team from WHO for the organisation of logistics and funding the programme. Special thanks are due to our Faculty, several of whom are originally from Syria, and for the participants for making the journey across the border and committing to the training for the week.