Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
How to Prevent Childhood Burn Injuries
Thousands of children suffer each year from burn-related injuries but there are ways parents can protect their children and prevent these burn injuries from occurring. 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.
Young Children More Prone to Burn Injuries
Children under age 4 have the greatest risk of burn injuries, and scalding by hot liquids or steam is the most common type of injury among young children. Infants and toddlers have thinner skin than older children or adults so they are more easily burned at lower temperatures and more deeply into the skin layers. Children under the age of 4 may not understand that hot liquids are dangerous, and have a harder time with the physical and psychological stress of burn injuries that may take a long time to heal.
Scalding Burn Injuries
Hot tap water causes one-fourth of all scald burns among children. Hot top water burns often happen in the bathroom and can be life-threatening because they cover a larger part of the body.
Another common scalding burn is due to foods or liquids heated in the microwave. 95 percent of microwave burns among children are scald burns. Microwave burns are caused by the spilling of hot liquids or food. The injuries most commonly affect the child’s trunk or face.
Most fire injuries happen because of children playing with fire, and these burn injuries are the main cause of death among children age 9 and younger. Other causes of burn injuries that commonly occur among children age 14 and under include
- hair curlers and curling irons,
- room heaters,
- ovens and ranges,
- irons, or
- gasoline.
Almost two-thirds of electrical burn injuries among children ages 12 were caused by household electrical cords and extension cords. Children playing with wall outlets occurred in 14 percent of electrical injuries.
If your child has been injured in an accident in Boston or Andover you should contact a Massachusetts child injury lawyer immediately to learn about plaintiff's rights and determine liability. Massachusetts has a statute of limitations that may prohibit you from filing a lawsuit if too much time has passed. Contact the Kiley Law Group for guidance on your personal injury case.
