State fire marshal offers burn prevention and treatment tipsDate: 2/5/2016 This week is National Burn Awareness Week and State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan recently offered tips on burn prevention.
“While we traditionally associate burns with fires, the leading burn injury in Massachusetts is hot liquid scalds to children under 5,” Coan said. “Remember that hot liquids burn like fire.”
According to the Massachusetts Burn Injury Reporting System (M-BIRS), children under five account for more than one-quarter of all burn injuries. Scalds from hot beverages like coffee and tea, hot water in the tub, and spilled cooking liquids caused nearly 80 percent of the burns to children under five in 2014.
On May 6, 2015, a 2-year-old New Bedford girl was scalded on her arm, chest, neck and face from hot tea. On Sept. 16, 2015, a 1-year-old West Springfield boy was burned over 20 percent of his body surface area when hot cooking liquids splashed onto him.
Tips to prevent scald burns
State Fire Marshal Coan offers these tips to prevent burns from hot liquids:
• Place babies or toddlers safely in a high chair or playpen while drinking hot coffee or tea. When holding children, put your hot beverage down, because a wiggling baby can move your arm and spill the drink.
• Put drinks and soups toward the center of the table away from curious fingers. Babies like to grab things.
• Consider replacing tablecloths with placemats to prevent children from pulling things on the table onto themselves.
• Create a three-foot safety zone around the stove and barbecue where children are not allowed, even when no cooking is taking place. Teach children to keep themselves safe: their job is to stay three giant steps away from the stove or grill.
• Use the back burners and turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge.
• Constantly supervise a young child in the bathtub. Place children facing away from faucets, so that they cannot turn on the hot water themselves.
• Always turn on the cold water faucet first, then add hot water.
Set water heaters to 125 degrees or less
In Massachusetts, the State Sanitary Code requires hot water heaters be set to temperatures between 110 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The code also requires mixing valves that also help prevent scalds to ensure bath water does not exceed 112 degrees at the faucet and water from other household faucets does not exceed 130 degrees.
On Jan. 9, 2015, a 3-month-old Boston boy was scalded when his mother was holding him over the sink to bathe and he accidentally slipped into the hot water. He received burns to over 5 percent of his body surface area.
Scalds cause 19 percent of burns to older adults
Older adults also frequently suffer scald burns from hot liquids and steam. As we age our skin becomes thinner, and serious burns occur more quickly.
On March 13, 2015, a 76-year-old Brockton woman was burned when hot cooking oil from a frying pan splattered on her. She received scald burns to 3 percent of her body surface area.
Burn First Aid: cool water
“Treat a burn with cool water; don’t use grease, butter, ointments, lotions or fats, because they can make the burn worse. Be sure to call 911 for medical help for all but the most minor burns,” Coan said.
He also offered these treatment tips for burns:
• Treat burns with cool water to return skin temperature to normal.
• Never use grease, butter, ointments, lotions, fats or ice.
• For more serious burns call 911 immediately.
Stop, drop and roll
“If fire ignites clothing, it is important to remember to stop, drop, cover and roll,” Coan said.
Children should be taught to stop, drop and roll if their clothing is on fire. Older children, adults and seniors must be aware that they can put out clothing fires even in a tight space, by rocking back and forth until the flames are out, or using a blanket or coat to smother the flames.
Massachusetts Burn Injury Reporting System (M-BIRS)
M-BIRS collects reports of all burns of five percent or more of the body surface area from doctors and medical treatment facilities in Massachusetts. M-BIRS is a joint program of the state Department of Fire Services and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). It provides valuable data on the nature of the burn problem in the Commonwealth. It is also a tool to help fire service and law enforcement personnel identify arsonists that may have been burned while setting fires. For more information on burn safety, go to www.mass.gov/dfs.
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