Citation

Schricke DI, Jennings PA, Edgar DW, Harvey JG, Cleland HJ, Wood FM, Cameron PA. Burns 2013; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Monash University, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Charite University Medicine Berlin, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.burns.2013.05.010

PMID

23790638

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Scalds are a common injury in children and a frequent reason for hospitalization despite being a preventable injury. METHODS: This retrospective 2 year study reports data from 730 children aged 14 years or younger who sustained a scald between 2009 and 2010 and were admitted to a burns center in Australia or New Zealand. Data were extracted from the Bi-National Burns Registry (Bi-NBR), comprising 14 burns centers in Australia and New Zealand. RESULTS: Scald injury contributed 56% (95% CI 53-59%) of all pediatric burns. There were two high risk groups: male toddlers age one to two, contributing 34% (95% CI 31-38%) of all scalds, and indigenous children who were over 3 times more likely to experience a scald requiring admission to a burns unit than their non-indigenous peers. First aid cooling by non-professionals was initiated in 89% (95% CI 86-91%) of cases but only 19% (95% CI 16-23%) performed it as recommended. CONCLUSION: This study highlights that effective burn first aid reduces hospital stay and reinforces the need to encourage, carers and bystanders to deliver effective first aid and the importance of targeted prevention campaigns that reduce the burden of pediatric scald burns in Australia and New Zealand.

Language: en