Citation

Roberts DC, Whitaker IS, Drew PJ. Burns 2007; 33(2): 258-260.

Affiliation

The Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, SA6 6NL, United Kingdom.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.burns.2006.06.005

PMID

17224238

Abstract

Burns due to hot beverages are a well known public health hazard, both at home and in the work place. Although, such injuries are often minor, they can be severely debilitating, and on certain occasions, fatal. Burns due to hot liquids most commonly affect children but in certain circumstances, the adult population is at risk.

Scald burns to the perineum from hot liquids served at drive through restaurants have not previously been reported. Perineal scalds are associated with both physical and psychological morbidity. The scalds sustained in these cases were embarrassing and upsetting for the patient. They were associated with prolonged periods away from work, and several visits to the hospital for dressing changes and wound assessment. Most importantly, they were preventable injuries. If certain health and safety measures relating to the dispensing of hot liquids at drive through restaurants were observed, these injuries would greatly reduce in incidence.

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Language: en