Finlay Cromack

• Investigating the prevalence and severity of post-burns complications amongst different Fitzpatrick skin types and first aid administrations
• MBBS

Each year, 16,000 people are treated as inpatients for burns injuries in the UK. Common complications of burns include wound infections, raised and uncomfortable (hypertrophic) scars, failed skin grafts, prolonged hospital stays and ICU admissions. Currently, there is little UK-based research on burns outcome variability between different skin colours. Additionally, the correct first aid required in a burn injury is at least 20 minutes of cool running water over the burn site, however this is not always administered. Using the RVI’s electronic patient records from the period 2020-2024, my study retrospectively observes any correlation between Fitzpatrick skin type and first aid provision and adverse burns outcomes in all burns inpatients. More broadly, the study comments on the trends in first aid provision in the North East, as well as the demographics of patients who require specialist burn treatment.