Aside from airway management, which is a critical step in managing a burn victim?

In the management of a burn victim, removing smoldering clothing and cooling the burn is critical due to several reasons. Firstly, it helps stop the burning process. If clothing is still warm or smoldering, it can continue to cause damage to the skin and underlying tissues. By gently removing this clothing, you reduce the risk of further thermal injury.

Cooling the burn area with running cool (not cold) water helps to diminish the skin temperature, thus preventing deeper tissue injury, and alleviates pain. This initial cooling should ideally be done within the first few hours after the burn occurs, as it can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the severity of the injury.

While pain management, wound care, and monitoring vital signs are indeed important aspects of the overall care of a burn victim, the immediate steps of removing damaging materials and cooling the affected areas are vital first responses in the acute management of burns. They directly address the injury and mitigate its effects, which is why this step is emphasized.