February 2-8 is National Burn Awareness Week. Children under five account for one-quarter of all reported burn injuries. Below, we have some information on burn injuries from our friends at the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.
Burn Injuries
According to data from the Massachusetts Burn Injury Reporting System (M-BIRS), children under five account for one-quarter of all reported burn injuries. In the past ten years, nearly half (45%) of all contact burns were to children under five. Touching heating and cooking equipment, other hot household items (like clothes irons), and walking barefoot on hot pavement are the leading causes of contact burns to young children.
- In 2018, there were 345 burn injuries reported to M-BIRS. This is a 4% decrease from the 359 burns reported in 2017
- Scald burns are the leading cause of burns to children under five.
- Children and older adults are more likely to suffer scald burn injuries than any other age group
For more information please visit the Preventing and Treating Burns and Scalds webpage.