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Young children are especially
vulnerable to burn-related injury and death. They do not
perceive danger, have less control of their environment
and have a limited ability to react promptly and properly
to a burn situation. A child in hot water will scream,
but may not withdraw from the water. Additionally,
children's skin is thinner than that of adults and
therefore burns at lower temperatures and more deeply.
For example, a child exposed to hot tap water at 140 °
for three seconds will sustain a third degree burn, an
injury requiring hospitalization and skin grafts.
Tap water scald burns, which most often
occur in the bathroom, are associated with more deaths
and injuries than those caused by others hot liquids. Burns resulting from exposure to
tap water tend to be more severe and cover a larger
portion of the body. Additionally, they result in more
hospitalization and are associated with more fatalities
than other hot liquid burns.
DEATHS AND INJURIES
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In
1992, 13 children ages 14 and under died from
scald burn-related injuries. Deaths from scald are most
common among children ages 4 and under. |
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Each year, nearly
35,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in
emergency rooms for burns from scalds and contact
with hot substances. Of these children, more than
65% are children ages 4 and under. |
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Approximately 16% of
scald burn injuries among children ages 4 and
under treated in emergency rooms are related to
hot tap water. |
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Scald
burns are the leading cause of burn-related
injuries among children. Approximately 65% of
children ages 4 and under hospitalized for
burn-related injuries are treated for scald
burns. The majority of these children are ages 6
months to 2 years. |
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Hot
tap water accounts for 24% of scald burns requiring hospitalization
among children age 4 and under. |
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The average
length of stay in the hospital for a tap water
scald burn is 17 days. |
HOW AND WHERE
SCALD BURN DEATHS AND INJURIES HAPPEN
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The
majority of burns to children are from hot foods
and liquids spilled in the kitchen or other
places where food is prepared and served,
especially among children ages 6 months to 2
years. |
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Hot liquid and
food burns often occur when children upset cups
of hot liquid such a coffee; grab dangling
appliance cords; grab pots off the stove; or pull
hanging tablecloths or place mats. |
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Tap
water scald burns commonly occur when children
are left unattended in the bathtub; are placed in water that
is too hot; are in the bathtub when another child
turns on the hot water; or fall into the bathtub. |
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The average
bathtub scald burn covers 12% of the body surface
with a full thickness, third degree burn. |
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Approximately
42% of scald burns involve more than 10% of a
child's total body surface area and most likely involve
the trunk, arms and legs. |
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Increased use of
alternative heating devices, such as wood or
coal-burning stoves and kerosene heaters, has led
to a surge in the number of contact burns. |
WHO IS AT RISK
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Children
ages four and under are the greatest risk for
scald burns. |
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In general,
children in single-parent families, children in
large families and children in high-stress family
situations are at greater risk for scald burns,
and suffer more scald burns injuries than do
other children. |
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Children living
in non-Caucasian, low-income and low-education
households are at greater risk for scald burns. |
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
EFFECTIVENESS
|
More
than 70% of all scald injuries among infants
could be prevented through behavioral and
environmental modifications. |
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Safer water
temperatures in the home (120°F or below) have
been successful in reducing the number of deaths
and injuries associated with tap water burns in
Washington State. |
SCALD BURN PROTECTION
LAWS
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Many communities
have established local ordinances for any new
construction which require the installation of
plumbing devices that keep water temperatures at
or below 120oF and prevent sudden
changes in water temperature. |
HEALTH CARE COSTS AND
SAVINGS
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For
scald burns sustained by children ages 14 and
under in one year, total lifetime societal losses
are valued at more than $2 billion. Children age four and
under account for 86% (more than $1.75 billion)
of these losses. |
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The average cost
of each hospitalized burn case in 1990 was
$22,700. |
PREVENTION TIPS
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Never
leave a child alone, especially in the bathroom or in
the kitchen. If you must leave the room, take the
child with you. |
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Set
your water heater thermostat to 120°F or less. The lower temperature, the
lower the risk of sustaining scald-burn related
injuries. |
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Install
anti-scald devices in bathtub faucets and shower
heads. |
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Always
test the water temperature before putting a child
in the bathtub or in a shower : Put your whole hand in
the water, spread your fingers wide and move your
hand back and forth through the water for several
seconds to check for hot spots. |
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Use
back burners and/or turn pot handle to the back
of the stove when cooking. Keep appliance cords out
of children's reach, especially if the appliances
contain hot liquids. |
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Never
carry children and hot foods and/or liquids at
the same time. |
11/95: The National Safe Kids
Campaign organization can be reached at:
111
Michigan Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20010-2970
(202) 884-4993
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