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- Title
596 Homeless Tent Fires: A Descriptive Analysis of Tent Fires in the Homeless Population.
- Authors
Huang, Samantha; Choi, Katherine J; Pham, Christopher H; Collier, Zachary J; Dang, Justin; Kiwanuka, Harriet; Sheckter, Clifford C; Yenikomshian, Haig A; Gillenwater, Justin
- Abstract
Introduction Homelessness is a rising concern as insufficient housing and significant barriers to shelter has led to more individuals seeking shelter in tents. Within this demographic there has been an increased trend of burn injuries from tent fires in regions with large homeless populations. This represents a public health crisis given the long-term psychosocial and functional sequela of burn injuries and existing data that suggest worse outcomes in the homeless population. To our knowledge, homeless related tent fire burns have not previously been studied in the literature. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics and outcomes of tent fire burn injuries in the homeless population. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving two verified regional burn centers with patients admitted for tent fire burns between January 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020. Patients were identified as either domiciled or homeless based on medical records at the time of injury. Variables recorded include demographics, injury characteristics, hospital course, and patient outcomes. Results A total of 45 patients were identified. The most common mechanisms of injury were by portable stove accident (29%), assault (27%), bonfire (22%), and tobacco or methamphetamine paraphernalia-related (16%). Median percent total body surface area (%TBSA) burned was 5.5 (IQR 5.5). Maximum depth of injury was second degree in 62% (n=28) of patients and third degree in 38% (n=17) of patients. Burns to the upper extremities were present in 84% of patients and burns to the lower extremities were present in 53% of patients. Median hospital LOS was 9.5 days (IQR=10) and median ICU LOS was 2 days (IQR=4.8), with inhalation injury present in 16% (n=7) of patients. Surgical intervention was required in 40% (n=18) of patients, which included debridement, skin grafting, and escharotomy. In-hospital mortality occurred in 5% (n=2) of patients. Conclusions Burn injuries from tent fires incur significant injury burden to an already vulnerable population, with risk factors that predispose them to poor burn outcomes. Injuries in our cohort were severe enough to require inpatient and ICU level of care. We saw a high proportion of injuries to the extremities, which pose functional and psychosocial challenges to the wellbeing of these patients. Further resources are needed to better prevent tent fires and care for this population.
- Subjects
INHALATION injuries; TENTS; BURN care units; BODY surface area; SKIN grafting; BURN patients
- Publication
Journal of Burn Care & Research, 2021, Vol 42, pS149
- ISSN
1559-047X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/jbcr/irab032.246