Burn Awareness Week: Scalds

Burn Awareness Week: February 3-9, 2013

Topic: Scalds

GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON SCALD BURNS

Although scald burns can happen to anyone, young children, older adults and people with disabilities are the most likely to incur such injuries. Most scald burn injuries happen in the home, in connection with the preparation or serving of hot food or beverages, or from exposure to hot tap water in bathtubs or showers. Severe scalds also occur in the workplace, typically when pipes or valves fail while carrying or regulating the flow of steam. Both behavioral and environmental measures may be needed to protect those vulnerable to scalds because of age or disability, or because they do not have control of the hot water temperature in multi-unit residential buildings.

The severity of a scald injury depends on the temperature to which the skin is exposed and how long it is exposed. The most common regulatory standard for the maximum temperature of water delivered by residential water heaters to the tap is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, the skin of adults requires an average of five minutes of exposure for a full thickness burn to occur. When the temperature of a hot liquid is increased to 140o F it takes only five seconds or less for a serious burn to occur. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and other hot beverages are usually served at 160 to 180o F, resulting in almost instantaneous burns that will require surgery. Since immediate removal of the hot liquid from the skin may lessen severity, splash and spill burns may not be as deep as burns suffered in a bathtub.

HIGH RISK GROUPS

Young Children
Young children have thinner skin resulting in deeper burns than adults for the same temperature and exposure time to a scalding substance. The proportion of a child’s body that is exposed to any given amount of a scalding substance is also greater: the same cup of spilled coffee will burn a much larger percent of a small child’s body. Small children also have little control of their environment, less perception of danger and less ability to escape a burning situation on their own. Children grow fast and can reach new, dangerous things every day. They do notrealize that hot liquids burn like fire.

Older Adults
Older adults, like young children, have thinner skin so hot liquids cause deeper burns with even brief exposure. Their ability to feel heat may be decreased due to certain medical conditions or medications so they may not realize water is too hot until injury has occurred. Because they have poor micro-circulation, heat is removed from burned tissue rather slowly compared to younger adults. Older adults may also have conditions that make them more prone to falls in the bathtub or shower or while carrying hot liquids.

People With Disabilities or Special Needs

Individuals who may have physical, mental or emotional challenges or require some type of assistance from caregivers are at high risk for all types of burn injuries including scalds. The disability may be permanent or temporary due to illness or injury and vary in severity from minor to total dependency on others. Mobility impairments, slow or awkward movements, muscle weakness or fatigue, or slower reflexes increase the risk of spills while moving hot liquids. Burns to the lap are common when a person attempts to carry hot liquids or food while seated in a wheelchair. Moving hot liquids can be extremely difficult for someone who uses a cane or walker. Sensory impairments can result in decreased sensation, especially to the hands and feet, so the
person may not realize if something is “too hot.” Changes in a person’s intellect, perception, memory, judgment or awareness may hinder the person’s ability to recognize a dangerous situation (such as a tub filled with scalding water) or respond appropriately to remove themselves from danger.

Other risk factors
Studies have shown that children who live in crowded housing and in families with low socioeconomic status are at higher risk for scald burns. Other related risk factors may include a lack of safe play environments, single and/or young mothers, and poor maternal education.

While the basic principles of scald prevention apply to the general population the additional concerns affecting these high risk groups must be addressed. Scald injuries result in considerable pain, prolonged treatment, possible lifelong scarring, and even death. Prevention of scald injuries is always preferable to treatment and can be largely accomplished through simple changes in behavior and in the home environment.

Selected Burn and Scald Injury Statistics for Children

Total burns:
• In 2003, an estimated 83,300 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for burn-related injuries.
• 15,000 children are hospitalized annually with burn injuries.
• 1,100 children die each year from fire and burns.
Scald burns:
• Approximately 21,000 children were treated for scald burns.
• Among children ages 4 and under hospitalized for burn-related injuries, an estimated 65% are treated for scald burns.
• The total annual cost of scald burn-related deaths and injuries among children ages 14 and under is $44 million. Children 4 and under account for more than 90 percent of these costs.

More information is available at www.AmeriBurn.org