753 Burn Specialty Specific Advocacy, What Can You Do for Injury Prevention

Abstract

Introduction Scald injuries affect many vulnerable populations. We know that there is a relationship between time and temperature as to severity of injury. When one of the authors had their residential hot water heater replaced, it was set to an uncomfortable temperature, 134oF, until adjusted to a safe level. This highlighted the possibility of catastrophic injury from a simple household function like washing hands or taking a bath. As a result, we have undertaken efforts to assess locations where burn team members and their families are potentially exposed to excessively hot water and educate them as to methods to measure their water temperature and maintain it at safe levels. Temperature differences between 120oF and 130oF mean the difference between injury in minutes to seconds. Methods Using a Taylor Market Digital Candy Thermometer, the tap is run at maximum hot water for 2 minutes. With water still running, a volume of approximately one liter is collected and the thermometer is immediately immersed in the water with the temperature recorded once stable. Data was recorded at a variety of locations, including residential (of care team), hotels, and around a variety of taps through the hospital. Results Twenty sites were measured for water temperature. The average temperature recorded was 114.1oF, with a median temperature recorded 110.9oF. There were three recordings of water temperature greater than 120oF, with the highest recorded at 132.9oF. All of these sites were immediately informed of the risks and appropriate measures taken to adjust water sources to an appropriate temperature. Conclusions We as burn care professionals know what acceptable water temperatures are for taps in our personal spaces. Despite that it is possible that hazardous conditions can exist. Many areas of society are looking for the guidance of health care providers, and we need to start in our own homes to make that environment safe, and then take that message to our relatives and community. Applicability of Research to Practice This is a real world demonstration of the need to verify safety in our own homes and then take that message of prevention to vulnerable populations.