02/07/2023
In 2021 emergency rooms nationwide treated an estimated 193,450 burn injuries involving many types of consumer products, from kitchen and cooking products to fireworks and space heaters.
Children under 10 years old are especially vulnerable and accounted for 26 percent of burn injuries treated in 2021. Nearly half of those injuries were to the upper extremities, from shoulders to fingers, and more than a third specifically to the hands and fingers.
The vast majority of burn incidents are preventable. Here are a few tips to keep safe:
• Candles: Use flashlights instead of candles. If using candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire, never leave them burning unattended, and extinguish candles when leaving the room and before sleeping.
• Cooking Care: Keep children away from the cooking area, and keep flammable items, like potholders and paper or plastic bags, away from the stove and oven.
• All Clothing Burns: Keep all clothing away from flames and ignition sources. Loose clothing can catch fire easily.
• Space Heater Safety: Keep hands and fingers away and give the space heater some space – at least three feet. Loose flammable items in close proximity to a space heater can catch fire.
• If You Smoke: Smoking materials can ignite clothing. Don’t smoke while drowsy; safely extinguish smoking material.
