Each day in the United States, around 300 children under five end up in the emergency room due to accidental burns, with the majority caused by hot liquids or steam. Older children are more commonly injured by direct contact with open flames.

Among the most distressing—and entirely preventable—are scalds from overheated baby bottles. If you have an infant at home, take a moment to review safe bottle-warming and handling practices. 

National Burn Awareness Week: Protecting Lives Through Prevention

Every year, the American Burn Association (ABA) designates the first full week of February as National Burn Awareness Week, a time to unite communities in promoting burn prevention and safety awareness. This year, the focus is on reducing burn risks in homes, apartments, and all living spaces.

There are five types of burns, and we want to also call attention to chemical burns, caused by ingesting or getting harmful chemicals on skin or in eyes. This is your sign to lock up all your household heavy duty cleaners and detergent pods, as well as make sure kids don't have easy access to pesticides, gasoline or any other harmful chemicals in the garage. 

Understanding the Risks

Burn injuries are a significant public health concern, with more than 398,000 people seeking medical care for burns in the United States in 2021. Children under five are particularly vulnerable, being twice as likely to be seen for burn injuries at hospital emergency departments compared to the general population.

Proactive Prevention Tips

Creating a safer living environment involves simple, proactive steps:

• Kitchen Safety:

  • Turn pot handles inward to prevent accidental spills.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
  • Know how to extinguish grease fires - smother with a lid, DON'T douse with water
  • Never leave cooking food unattended.

• Bathroom Precautions:

  • Set water heaters below 120°F to prevent scalds.
  • Poorly maintained gas water heaters can catch fire (ask me how I know!) Do proper maintenance to prevent fires.
  • Supervise children during bath time - again, we've got a horror story about this one.

• General Home Safety:

  • Smoke alarm beeping? Replace the batteries, don't just rip it out of the ceiling to stop the beep!
  • Don't overload circuits, especially if you live an an old house
  • Charge devices and store chemicals according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Remember the exploding HoverBoard crisis?
  • It's almost time for crawfish boils and steaks on the grill - both of which present their own set of hazards. Keep children far away from the setup.

Implementing these measures can significantly reduce the risk of burn injuries in your home. Here are some other prevention resources. 

Get Involved

National Burn Awareness Week encourages community participation through various initiatives:

• Social Media Video Award: Create and share original videos focused on burn prevention. Submissions are due by January 20, 2025, with a monetary honorarium awarded to the winner.

• Poster Contest – American Burn Association This initiative invites burn survivors and children, including those who attend burn camps, to express messages of awareness and resilience through their art. Submissions are due in Fall 2025, with winners celebrated during National Burn Awareness Week in February 2026.

By participating in these activities and implementing safety measures, we can work together to reduce burn injuries and create safer communities.