Children with burn injuries require specialized care and a highly trained team of experts to not only treat the physical injuries, but also to care for the emotional well-being of both the patient and the family.
- Approximately 150 patients with new burn injuries are treated at BC Children’s Hospital each year alone
- Scald burns account for 70 per cent of all burns in children in B.C.
- Scalds are most often caused by hot liquids, steam or hot bath water
- 78 per cent of burn injuries in children in B.C. happen to children under five
- Toddlers are at a developmental stage where they need to explore and experiment, often lacking awareness of danger in certain situations
- Remember to keep that coffee or tea out of reach of little hands.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove, or cook on back burners, so no one can bump them or pull them over.
- Practice fire drills with your family to ensure you know what to do in the event of a fire.
- Ensure you have a working smoke detector and test it regularly.
One of the easiest steps you can take to reduce the risk of burns in households is to share resources with caregivers on how to prevent these incidents from happening.
A new e-learning platform created by the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, with support from BC Children’s Hospital, is being launched during this year’s Burn Awareness Week (February 5 – 11, 2023). The course is a resource for caregivers to learn about burn and scald prevention.
Learn prevention strategies by taking the new Too Hot for Tots course
Reprinted with permission from the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund.
