This week is American Burn Association’s Burn Awareness Week, a time designated to educate the public about common burn awareness and prevention strategies. Burn injuries from scalding typically increase in the winter months as people try to warm up with a hot shower or hot beverage.
Scald injuries are the focus for the 2014 Burn Awareness week. Scald injuries can occur when hot liquids or steam causes damage to one or more layers of the skin due to contact. Scalds are most likely to occur in the kitchen and the bathroom from things like hot tap water, beverages and food and steam.
In 2012, scald burns were reported as the cause for 2,173 emergency department visits and 139 hospital admissions statewide.
Scalds are the second leading cause of all burn injuries, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Although scald burns can happen to anyone, young children, older adults and people with disabilities are the most likely to experience such injuries. In fact, 60 percent of all scald injuries occur in young children, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
Scalds can be prevented by taking a few precautionary steps:
Set home water heater thermostats to below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Test the water using a meat or water thermometer after letting the water run for three to five minutes and adjust the water temperature accordingly.
Avoid flushing toilets, running water or using dishwashers and washing machines while someone is showering.
Install anti-scald or tempering devices to prevent water that’s too hot from coming out of the tap. Always check bathwater temperatures by moving your hand, wrist and forearm through the water, especially before putting a child in the water. The water should feel warm, not hot.
Never carry or hold a child while cooking, drinking a hot liquid or carrying hot foods or liquids to prevent spilling or splashing liquids on the child.
Allow microwaveable food to cool prior to eating and open packaging slowly and away from the face.
To visit the Indiana State Department of Health’s website, go to StateHealth.in.gov.
