What should be the initial priorities in the management of any severe burn?

• A. Antibiotics and wound debridement only.
• B. Pain control and comfort measures only.
• C. Airway and fluid resuscitation.
• D. Nutritional support and infection control.

Answer: (C)

Initial burn management focuses on life threats. In severe burns, airway can become compromised quickly due to facial burns, edema, or inhalation injury, so securing an airway and providing ventilatory support is essential early on. At the same time, massive fluid shifts from the injured tissues can cause rapid hypovolemia and shock, so starting fluid resuscitation promptly helps maintain perfusion to vital organs. Pain control and comfort are important, but they don’t address these immediate life-threatening issues. Wound care, antibiotics, and infection control are critical parts of definitive management but follow stabilization of airway and circulation. Nutritional support supports recovery but is not the immediate priority before securing the airway and resuscitating fluids. So, the initial priorities are airway protection and fluid resuscitation.