Wednesday 11th October 2023 is National Burns Awareness Day. The aim of the day is to promote awareness of how we can avoid burn injuries occurring. Prevention and good first aid are key to reducing the number of Burns and Scalds occurring in the UK every single day. A burn injury is for life. The scars are physical as well as psychological, and can present life-long challenges for the individual and their families.
The average cost to the NHS for a major burn is £95,000, but what is the cost to the individual and the family? What many people don’t know, is that children and the elderly are the most vulnerable, and the majority of injuries occur as a result of an accident that could so easily have been prevented.
Did you know hot drinks such are one of the most common cause of scalds in children? Something as common as a tea or coffee can have devastating effects. Other top causes of paediatric burns and scalds include electric hobs and hair straighteners. 7,335 children were so badly burnt in 2022 that they required admission to a specialist burns unit. This figure does not include the thousands who were also seen in emergency departments.
If you would like any more information about Burns Awareness Day or prevention of burn injuries please visit the websites listed below.
www.britishburnassociation.org www.cbtrust.org.uk www.safetea.org.uk
