Invitation to EU Burn Assessment Team Courses 2022
Dear colleagues,
Please be informed that, in the framework of the training programme through its UCP Knowledge Network, the European Commission has the pleasure to offer three training courses for Burn Assessment Teams.
Background
All victims of mass casualty disasters should receive adequate care. Yet there is limited national capacity in all Member States to provide specialised care in case of mass burn casualties (e.g. after a terrorist attack). This is why cooperation at EU-level is necessary.
Over the past few years, the European Commission, the European Burns Association (EBA) as well as experts from the countries participating in the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) have worked together to better prepare for mass burn casualty incidents. Specifically, they have developed detailed guidance on how affected countries can quickly request and receive assistance in the form of Burn Assessment Teams, medical evacuation capacities, and access to burn care in other countries. The Commission Staff Working Document can be found at https://ec.europa.eu/echo/system/files/2020-02/swd_preparing_for_mass_burn_casualty_incidents.pdf
The composition of a Burn Assessment Team – i.e. 3 burn care clinicians and 1 coordinator – is based on the tasks that need to be performed. The coordinator will ensure the smooth functioning of the team, provide planning and direction, and ensure overall coordination with national authorities and other stakeholders. According to standardised criteria, the assessment of burn severity is best done by a trained burn surgeon and burn nurse. The assessment of fitness for transportation (depending on the severity of organ failure and the need for replacement therapy) is best done by an anaesthesiologist or critical care specialist trained in burn care.
To ensure that Europe is better prepared for handling mass casualty incidents in practice as well as on paper and following a successful pilot Burn Assessment Team course in January 2020, the European Commission is funding 3 further courses for Burn Assessment Teams that can be rapidly deployed to a disaster in order to support the secondary assessment and triage and transfer of burn victims.
The Commission selected Interburns, as part of a wider consortium with the European Burns Association, the Norwegian Directorate of Health, Johanniter and Training in Aid, as the contractor to design and organise the courses. Interburns is an international network for training, education and research in burns that focuses in particular on strengthening local capacities in burn care.
Course dates:
Dates for the 3-day training courses are as follows:
Course 1 and 2 all fully subscribed for 2022
Course 3: March 26th – 29th 2023 (The Netherlands)
Selected participants are expected to attend the course from its beginning to its end.
The training course will be held in English without translation, thus all participants must have proficiency in English language (B1).
Nomination and registration process to courses Nmbr 3 (March 2023)
Through the online registration tool, the National Training Coordinators will nominate 4 experts who will constitute one team of 3 burn care clinicians and 1 coordinator per country to participate in one of the two first training courses for Burn Assessment Teams (invitation to the third course will be shared later this year).
By the registration deadline indicated in the invitation forwarded by the NTC, each team member will fill in the online registration form and upload the “Application form” available in the online invitation (to be filled in manually). The same team name will be chosen and used by all the team members.
Please note that individual applications outside an official team will not be accepted.
In total 20 places per course (5 teams of 4 personnel) are available for Member States/Participating States.
Selection Criteria
The final selection of participants will be done by DG ECHO based on the following criteria:
Covid-19
The National Guidelines of the RIVM have been followed by the Woudschoten Hotel regarding Coronavirus safety measures: https://www.rivm.nl/en .
From 25th Feb many coronavirus restrictions within the hotel have been moderated, but the hotel still maintains a safe environment regarding coronavirus with in-depth cleaning, disinfecting gel dispensers throughout and participants invited to wear masks.
Regarding entry into the Netherlands, those traveling from an EU country will need to show proof of vaccination, a Digital Covid certificate (DCC) based on proof of recovery or a negative test result. If travelling by air, a health declaration must be completed. On arrival in the Netherlands, a self-test should be completed. Further information can be found at: https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/checklist-entry?utm_source=pagina-offline&utm_medium=redirect
Please mind that in case of test positivity, the hosting Country regulations will be applied. In such case, the training center will not be able to cover the related costs, therefore we recommend having an appropriate insurance that would cover medical or any other costs.
For further questions on the course, please contact: Dr Amy Hughes on any.hughes@interburns .org
Questions on the registration process will be addressed to echo-cp-training-exercises@ec.europa.eu
Best regards,
Amy Hughes