This Continuing Professional Development (CPD) module will focus on the aetiology, identification and pre-hospital recognition and management of both adult and paediatric patients presenting with burn injuries. Burns can range from simple, self-limiting injuries that may be managed at home to a life-threatening injury that can lead to life-long disability and pain. Thermal injuries, or burns, probably have the greatest potential to cause the most systemic damage of all damage to skin. This tissue damage and cell death can result from intense heat, electricity, ultra violet (UV) radiation (such as sunburn) or chemical (such as caused by acids). In addition, burns may present in association with other injuries, so may not be assessed initially as the main injury. The severity of the damage caused by burns is often determined by the underlying organ damage.