Burns with airway signs — DipIMC MCQ
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Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: A — Convey to the nearest emergency department for airway stabilisation
Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · A = shown as C · C = shown as D
D is correct: Threatened airway takes precedence over burns centre bypass when airway control is not secured. A is less suitable because it moves the patient before the decisive threat or destination issue is addressed; B is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette; C is less suitable because it moves the patient before the decisive threat or destination issue is addressed; E is less suitable because it moves the patient before the decisive threat or destination issue is addressed. The most tempting alternative is therefore suboptimal because it either delays the time-critical pre-hospital intervention or sends the patient to the wrong level of care. The key DipIMC principle is focused cABCDE decision-making with early pre-alert, triage or retrieval escalation when the scene physiology demands it.
Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; NICE Major Trauma NG39; ATACC