Final answer:
Drawing from a burn area should be avoided due to the high risk of infection and damage to blood vessels. It is preferable to obtain intravenous access from unburned areas to prevent complications and reduce pain for the patient.
Step-by-step explanation:
You should not draw from a burn area on a patient because the skin and underlying tissues are damaged, leading to a significant risk of infection and further complications. Drawing fluid or inserting needles into a burn area can introduce new pathogens into an already compromised region, exacerbating the risk of infection. Moreover, burn injuries result in damaged blood vessels which can cause difficulty in obtaining a good blood draw, and such procedures can be more painful due to the inflammatory response and potential exposure of nerve endings, albeit third and fourth-degree burns may not be as painful initially due to nerve damage.
Intravenous access in burn patients is typically obtained from unburned areas to reduce these risks. This is because burned skin loses its protective barrier against bacteria and other pathogens, making it more vulnerable to infections. Additionally, the inflammatory response after a burn includes leukocytosis, which is an increase in white blood cells, as the body’s immune system responds to the injury and potential infection.