Thousands of children suffer each year from burn-related injuries but there are ways parents can protect their children and prevent these injuries. Recent statistics show 92,500 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for burn-related injuries. Of these, 58,100 were from fire burns, 22,600 were scald burns, 7,200 were chemical burns and 2,100 were electrical burns.
Most burn injuries occur with children under age 4, and being scalded by hot liquid or food is the most common type of injury in young children. Most fire injuries are caused by children playing with fire, especially with those children age 9 and younger. Shriner’s Hospital has advice for parents on evaluating burn injuries to see if they are first, second, or third degree injuries and whether they need to be taken to the hospital for treatment. Shriner’s Hospital and USA SafeKids have burn injury prevention tips for parents.
For more information, go to:
National SAFE KIDS Campaign (NSKC). Burn Injury Fact Sheet. Washington (DC): NSKC, 2004.
