We see injuries due to bath water being too hot and children pulling hot liquid on themselves in the kitchen. However, to a child, they can lead to injury or even death. Scalds are the leading cause of death and injury to children under 2. In fact, more than one in every three cases of all burn injuries and deaths in the United States are among children.
Household items containing hot foods and liquids are the largest source of burns in children.
We see injuries due to bath water being too hot and children pulling hot liquid on themselves in the kitchen. Medical personnel are using Burn Awareness Week, Feb. 6 through 12, to educate the public about the dangers of burns. Most burns we see each year are thermal burns, including scalds to children, gasoline explosions, and burns from house fires. Several more patients with burn injuries are treated and released. People who experience burns that are blistered, larger than the palm of a hand, or around the joints, face, hands, feet, or genital area, should be taken to a hospital immediately, said Lynnette Batista, R.N., UK Hospital Burn Unit nurse.