From ages 75 and above, the kitchen is the most frequent area for burn injuries to occur, with outdoor fire accidents being next. Burns and fires are the leading cause of accidental death in the home for children 14 and under and the third leading cause of accidental death for adults. The National Burn Information Exchange indicates that after the age of 60, the risk of burn injury is greater than at any time since childhood and the average size of the burn is larger than for any other age group. The most common burn accidents for older adults are from flame or scalding, lighting trash fires or a furnace, bathing or falling asleep while smoking. The National Fire Protection Agency found that the age group most likely to die in house fires are those 75 and older.
Burns are one of the most expensive catastrophic injuries to treat.
For extensive burns, there are additional significant costs which will include costs for repeat admission for reconstruction and for rehabilitation.