The American Burn Association (ABA) has identified those injuries that should be treated in a specialized burn center. Patients with burns should be treated in a specialized burn facility after initial assessment and treatment at an appropriate hospital emergency department. Sometimes major burns are directed to burn center from the scene if the center is within a safe transport time.

Burn injuries that should be referred to a burn unit includes the following:

1. Partial thickness burns greater than 10% total body surface area (TBSA).

2. Burns that involve the face, genitalia, perineum or major joints (see High Risk section).

3. Third degree burns in any age group.

4. Electrical burns including lightening injury (see Electrical Burn section).

5. Chemical burns including lightening injury (see Chemical Burn section).

6. Inhalation injury.

7. Children with any of the above burn injuries.

8. Burn injury in patients with pre-existing medical disorders that could complicate management.

9. Any patients with traumatic injury (such as fractures0 in which the burn injury poses the greatest risk of morbidity or mortality. If the trauma poses the greater immediate risk, then the patient must be initially stabilized in the nearest appropriate facility before being transferred to a burn unit.

10. Any burned children if the hospital initially receiving the patient does not have qualified personnel or equipment for children.