Prevent Scalding Burns

 

Burns are injuries to skin and other tissues caused by heat, friction, electricity, radiation, or chemicals. Hot liquid or steam can cause burns called scalds.

Burns are classified according to how seriously tissue has been damaged, according to the CDC:

• A first degree burn causes redness and swelling in the outermost layers of the skin.

• A second degree burn involves redness, swelling, and blistering. The damage may extend to deeper layers of the skin.

• A third degree burn destroys the entire depth of the skin. It can also damage fat, muscle, organs, or bone beneath the skin. Significant scarring is common, and death can occur in the most severe cases.

 

According to the American Burn Association’s most recent statistics:

• More than half-a-million adults and children in the United States suffer burns severe enough to require medical attention.

• About 40,000 are hospitalized from their burns, 30,000 in one of 128 specialized burn centers located around the country.

• Males are more likely than females to be hospitalized in burn centers (68% vs. 32%).

• Hospital admission records identify burn injuries by cause; fire/flame burns (43%) are most common, followed by scalds (34%), contact burns (9%), electrical burns (4%) the percentages of burn injuries, including fire/flame burns (44%), scalds (33%), contact burns (9%), electrical burns (4%), chemical burns (3%), and others (7%).

• A large majority of burn injuries occur in the home (73%), followed by work (8%) and in the car (5%).

 

Last week, Allegheny Health Network observed National Burn Awareness Week sponsored by the American Burn Association, which seeks to “bring awareness to the causes of such devastating and costly injuries and encourages everyone to make simple environmental and behavioral changes that can save lives.”

Previous years’ topics focused on contact burns (2020), electrical injury/burn prevention (2021), and cooking burns (2022). This year’s theme is “Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire” raising awareness for preventing scald injuries.

Last Monday, AHN issued a press release featuring the West Penn Burn Center, where more than 700 patients with burn injuries are treated every year:

“People often associate burns with fire specifically, but hot liquids can burn the skin just as badly, causing injuries that can be as traumatic and severe as those caused by fires,” said Ariel M. Aballay, MD, director of the West Penn Burn Center. “As more people are home this winter and trying to find ways to stay warm in the cold weather, we encourage everyone be extra-careful with hot liquids, steam, and bath water.”

 

Scalds are common injuries that keep West Penn Burn Center’s clinical team busy:

The proportion of burn center admissions due to scalds continues to increase each year, with scalds comprising 32 percent of all admissions to U.S. burn centers.

“At West Penn, we’re committed to providing a full spectrum of advanced care and support for patients with burn injuries and their families,” added Dr. Aballay. “Our Burn Center also provides free burn prevention and safety programs to local schools within the AHN service region and to former patients, as no cost.”

 

The American Burn Association lists a few ways scalding burn injuries can be prevented:

• When bathing a child, be sure to run your hand through bath water to ensure there are no hot spots that could cause injury.

• Never hold a child while drinking hot liquids to avoid an accidental spill.

• Avoid a dangerous balancing act. Never hold a child while carrying hot foods.

• Keep your child safe. Never hold a child while cooking to avoid a scald injury.

• Establish a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet (1 meter) around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

• Warning: Handle with care! Microwaved food can be hot enough to cause a burn. Always open lids away from your body.

• When taking food out of the oven, always wear oven mitts to prevent scald injury.

• Use a tight-fitting lid on travel mugs to prevent a burn if the cup tips over.

 

Read more about AHN’s West Penn Burn Center here.

 

source https://www.thepediablog.com/2023/02/13/prevent-scalding-burns/