Tap water scald burns in children

Abstract

Tap water scald burns account for 7% to 17% of all childhood scald burns that require hospitalization. Often the burns are severe and disabling. Toddlers and preschool children are the most frequent victims. In 45% of the injuries, the unsupervised victim or a peer turned on the tap water; in 28% the cause was abuse. Eighty per cent of the homes tested had unsafe bathtub water temperatures of 54°C (130°F) or greater, exposing the occupants to the risk of full thickness scalds with 30 second exposure to hot water. Such burns may be prevented passively by limiting household water temperatures to less than 52°C (125°F). New water heaters could be preset at this temperature and families could be taught to turn down the temperature on existing units.

Risk and protective factors for fires, burns, and carbon monoxide poisoning in U.S. households

“…1,7,9 Children aged <5 years and adults aged >60 years compose about one fourth of all emergency department visits for burns and fire-related injuries, with scalds as a leading type of injury. 1,7,[10][11][12] Hot tap water is a major cause of scalds, resulting in >3500 emergency department visits each year. Scalds from hot tap water often are more severe than other types of scalds, because they tend to involve larger portions of the body surface.…”

Impact of para-neurologic and para-mental premorbidities on burn injury patients

“…In the homes of pediatric premorbid patients, water heaters should be set at 37.7 °C (100 °F); in the case of other adults, these devices can be set to 48.8-51.6 °C (120-125 °F). [25] Special care and additional measures should be taken in the treatment of burn injury patients with premorbidity. Psychological, neurological and geriatric causes are factors that may affect recovery from the burn injury or the success of the operation.…”

The Role of Evidence in Public Health Policy: An Example of Linkage and Exchange in the Prevention of Scald Burns

“…Of these, scald injuries account for 70% of hospitalizations and 45% of emergency department visits (Choiniere et al 1997). Of all scald injuries, 5%-10% are tap water scalds (Choiniere et al 1997;Feldman et al 1978).…”