Children are at the biggest risk when it comes to getting burned and scalded by hot water. In children, burns resulting from hot tap water injuries tend to be the most severe form of scalding injuries. In addition, these burns almost always cover a larger surface area than other scalds.

In such cases, treatment often includes skin grafting on an ongoing basis. Children may not only suffer permanent physical scarring, but may also be emotionally traumatized. A nurse from the Shriners Burn Institute says it best.

" The greatest tragedy is that these injuries are preventable," states Debbie Harrell, RN, a nurse at Shriners for over 15 years and someone who has performed dozens of burn prevention programs for kids and adults. "If a child is severely burned, it takes years of therapy and multiple surgeries to minimize scarring and restore a child's ability to function independently, physically as well as mentally. Even the best medical care we can provide can't prevent scars that will last a lifetime."

The Facts:

• Burns damage or destroy skin cells

• Deep burns damage or destroy muscle, fat and bone

• Children have thinner skin than adults

• Children’s skin burns at much lower temperatures than adults

• Children’s skin burns faster than adult skin

• Children are less likely to survive a severe burn than an adult

• 80% of childhood burns occur in the home

• #1 cause of burns in children is scalding

• Majority of burns happen to children below age 6

• Childhood scalds destroy more layers of skin

• Hot steam and hot liquids are the most common cause of childhood scalding

• Hot tap water main cause of scalding in childhood

• Majority of hot tap water scalding in childhood is caused by leaving children unattended in a bathroom, putting children in too hot a bath, or unattended children in baths turning on hot water

• Some bathing scalding in childhood are caused by inexperienced babysitters, faulty hot water tanks and shower water spikes

• Scalding in childhood from shower water spikes are caused both others flushing toilets, using the washing machine or running another tap

• Most common kitchen scalding causes in childhood are hot drinks, kettle water, teapot liquids, boiling liquids on stoves, and bad practices when heating liquids in a microwave

• Scalding can result in further physical injuries during childhood when a child cannot escape the source of the scalding (i.e., slipping – bone breakage, cuts and or bruises, head injuries, or death by drowning)

Sources: Alberta Municipal Affairs
Clinical Reference Systems
Person ALMS.Com