First responders receive specialized burn care training

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – After the tragedies in Lahaina and Aliamanu, more first responders are undergoing more training on how to treat burn patients.

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Straub Benioff Medical Center’s Burn Care Unit, the only unit in the Pacific region, hosted a special class on advanced burn life support.

Nearly 20 first responders from multiple agencies, including Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, American Medical Response, Honolulu Fire Department and Federal Fire Department, participated.

The training focuses on the first 24 to 48 hours after a burn injury, and the hospital said participants learned how to assess, treat and stabilize burn patients and transfer them to the Burn Center Unit for advanced lifesaving care.

“We’re providing knowledge and experience based off of what we do here every single day. Our staff, they are the experts in burn care and so for us to be able to share that knowledge and expertise with others, I think it’s very important,” said registered nurse Amy Chong, withStraub Benioff Burn Care Unit Supervisor.

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Straub Benioff said it now offers ABLS classes monthly, and more of the hospital’s physicians and nurses are being trained to be ABLS-certified instructors.

All participants who passed the class received Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) certification.

“Working together and having those scenario-based discussions, learning from one another, wearing each other’s hats, definitely super valuable.” HFD Capt. Keopele Gowan.

With RIMPAC underway, the hospital said it was an opportunity to connect with first responders around the region.

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