Today is National Burns Awareness Day and the message this year from the British Burn Association is ‘Hot water burns like fire’.
According to the British Burn Association 7,335 children were burned or scalded in 2022 alone in England and Wales.
This figure doesn’t include the thousands seen and discharged in A&E. These are the children who were so badly injured they had to be admitted to a Specialist Burns Unit.
Most accidents that cause burns and scalds to babies and children involve hot water, so in this week’s blog we’re going to look at all the risks within the home and we’ll give you a reminder of what first aid steps to take if your child ever does experience a burn.
A burn injury is for life
The affects of a burn can cause both physical and mental scarring and can last a lifetime.
Prevention is always better than cure but first aid for burns can make a huge difference so please read to the end to remind yourself of the correct measures to take if your child does accidentally get burned.
Remember, it doesn’t take as high a temperature for a child to experience a serious burn as their skin is thinner and therefore is damaged more easily at a lower temperature.
Hot drinks
30 babies and toddlers go to hospital with a hot drink burn every day.
60% of all children under 3 who attended A&E are due to a hot drink burn.
Prevention of hot drink burns is easy using these simple rules:
• Keep hot drinks out of reach of young children – placing them at the back of the kitchen surface and never on a table cloth or cloth that hangs down so that a small child can reach and pull it down
• Never carry a hot drink whilst carrying a baby
• Never pass a hot drink over the heads of young children
• Avoid drinking hot drinks around small children
Hot water bottles
Hot water bottles can be dangerous and cause burns if they are not
cared for or used safely.
Rubber deteriorates over time so old hot water bottles can burst or leak
and cause serious burns. Check for signs of wear and tear regularly.
Keep an eye on the flower symbol, which indicates exactly when it was made. Don’t use a hot water bottle that is more than 2 years old. Never fill a hot water bottle with boiling water.
Saucepan and kettle spills
531 children were admitted to an NHS Burns Service due to injuries related to an electric hob in 2022.
A further 375 children were admitted to an NHS Burns Service due to accidents involving kettle spills.
It is crucial that children are not left alone around hot cooking surfaces and keep them out of the kitchen when cooking or preparing food and hot drinks.
Always use the back burners on the hob when you can and turn handles in. Keep kettles and their cords out of reach of little hands.
Hot water scalds in the bath or shower
Hot water can pose a real danger.
Bath and shower water can cause such bad burns that children need years of treatment and may be scarred for life. It only takes one second to get a deep burn in hot water when the water temperature is at 70°C.
Always run cold water before hot and test the temperature with the back of your hand. Never leave a child alone in the bath, even for a second.
What first aid steps to take if your child does get burned
1 – REMOVE any loose clothing or jewellery. Don’t remove anything that is stuck to the skin.
2 – COOL the burn by holding it under cool running water for 20 minutes.
3 – CALL for help by dialling 111 for advice or 999 in an emergency.
4 – COVER the burn using cling film to keep it clean.
All statistics from the BBA. Click here to visit their website.