Step 1: Burns resuscitation uses the Parkland formula, where the 24-hour Ringer lactate requirement equals four times the body weight in kg times the percent body surface area burned.
Step 2: Plugging in 50 kg and 40 percent: $4 \times 50 \times 40 = 8000$ mL for the whole first day.
Step 3: The protocol front-loads fluid by giving one half within the first 8 hours: $\tfrac{8000}{2} = 4000$ mL.
Step 4: So 4 litres is infused in those first 8 hours, with the other half spread across the following 16 hours and adjusted to keep urine output near 50 mL/hr.
\[\boxed{4\ \text{litres}}\]