Scald injuries can be serious enough to require surgery, but they’re also highly preventable — realities that are the focus of Burn Awareness Week, observed annually during the first week of February.
“So many scald burns are preventable, such as cooking safely, practicing safe bathing habits, and being vigilant when handling and drinking hot liquids, like coffee,” said Krista Brands, CEO of the American Trauma Society’s Pennsylvania Division.
Here are some facts and figures related to scald injuries:
1,208
Number of people in Pennsylvania hospitalized for burn injuries in a year*
112
Allegheny County residents hospitalized for burn injuries last year*
22
Westmoreland County residents hospitalized for burn injuries last year*
376,950
Estimated number of scald burn injuries from household appliances and products seen at U.S. hospitals from 2013-17
78,526
Number of children age 4 or younger included in those figures
300
Number of children seen each day in U.S. emergency rooms with burn injuries
2
U.S. children who die each day from burn injuries
Fact
Young children and older adults are more vulnerable to scald burns because their skin has thinner dermal layers.
85%
Percentage of scald burns that occur in the home
35%
Portion of burn center admissions attributed to scald burns in 2017, up from 30 percent in 2007
100 degrees
Recommended temperature of water for bathing
120 degrees
Recommended temperature setting for hot water heaters
3 seconds
Time it takes 140-degree water to potentially cause a burn serious enough to require surgery
Visit ameriburn.org for more information.
*= Third quarter of 2017 through second quarter of 2018, the most-recent figures available.
Sources: Consumer Product Safety Commission, American Burn Association, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff at 724-836-6622, jhimler@tribweb.com or via Twitter @jhimler_news.
