Safe transfer of civilian burn casualties.

The advisability of transporting severely burned civilian patients to a definitive burn-care facility during the first hours following injury is discussed and methods providing safe transport for 353 civilian burn patients are described. Feasibility of and methods for transporting patients over various distances are outlined and the problems of jet transportation presented. Adequate communication between referring and receiving physicians is imperative, as are adequate preparation before evacuation and maintenance of intravenous fluid resuscitation, intake and output records, and sterile technique during transport.