Hot water burns like fire

Kidsafe Victoria

Kidsafe, in partnership with the Australian & New Zealand Burn Association (ANZBA), is urging parents and carers to be extra vigilant this winter to prevent burns, and ensure they are aware of the correct first aid steps for burns.

The call comes during National Burns Awareness Month, an Australia-wide campaign run by Kidsafe focused on raising awareness of prevention and correct first aid treatment for burns and scalds across all age groups.

Data from the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand (BRANZ) shows that in 2020/2021, 1,009 children aged under 15 were admitted to burns units across Australia and New Zealand – over 19 per week.

The primary cause of injury in paediatric patients was scalds (49%), in particular scalds from hot drinks such as tea and coffee.

Gretchen Waddell, Program Manager at Kidsafe Victoria, highlighted that the home is the most common location for childhood burn injuries (76%), with statistics showing that the majority occur in the kitchen (44%).

“It’s important as parents and carers that we remain vigilant and take action to help reduce the risk of burns to children in the home. Along with active adult supervision, important prevention steps include keeping children out of the kitchen when meals are being prepared, placing hot food and drinks out of reach, and ensuring older children eat whilst sitting at a table to help prevent spills.”

“Particularly during winter, hot water bottles, heat bags, and heaters are also potential burn hazards for children. Restricting children’s access to these items is also recommended,” said Ms Waddell.

The statistics also reveal that 26% of children and 40% of adults (≥16 years) did not receive the recommended ‘gold standard’ initial first aid treatment for their burn injury, underlining the importance of continued education on burns first aid.

“If a burn happens, it’s critical that cool running water is applied to the burn area for 20 minutes. Many people still do not realise that using ice, creams, ointments, or butter on a burn can make the injury worse,” said Ms Waddell.

“Taking the correct first aid steps can make a significant difference in the rehabilitation and long-term outcome of the burn injury”.

First aid treatment of burns and scalds:
• Remove – remove yourself from danger. Remove any clothing and jewellery from the burn area unless stuck to the skin
• Cool – Place the burn under cool running water for twenty minutes. Items like ice, oil or butter should never be placed on a burn as they can make it worse.
• Cover the burn with a clean dressing
• Seek medical attention if the burn or scald is on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or buttocks, is larger than a 20-cent coin or blistered.

For more information about National Burns Awareness Month and burns prevention and first aid resources, please visit Kidsafe Victoria’s website.

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