This month, the American Burn Association (ABA) meets at their annual conference. A non-profit organization dedicated to burn education, prevention and research, the ABA meets for a four-day educational fair that highlights legislative issues, new technologies and brainstorm sessions for upcoming burn awareness campaigns.
As this meeting takes place, it would do us all well to remember that burn prevention and fire safety fall on everyone’s shoulders, not just those of burn care professionals and firefighters. Each year, over 47,000 children are injured in fires. Burn related injuries are a leading cause of unintentional death among children each year. Among adults, the statistics are similarly grim: in 1997, burn injuries claimed the lives of 3,213 people aged fifteen and over.
Prevention is the strongest method with which we can fight fire. Most people know the simple burn awareness prevention tips, such as installing smoke detectors, keeping matches from children and turning pot handles toward the stove. However, many other simple tips exist, and their implementation can easily decrease your chances of falling victim to unintentional burn injury.
Most unintentional burn injuries occur in the home. While our homes are ideally the safest places we have, they are often filled with things that threaten our safety. For this reason, it is imperative to have a fire evacuation plan that is both realistic and well rehearsed. For instance, if there are children or elderly people who live in a room and the plan calls for exit through a window, make sure that window can be easily opened, and that the descent from that window is possible.
Having a plan that is not well rehearsed is not wise. Under the stress of a situation, you are much more prone to panic and forget the routine if you are not comfortable in it. This is important in both a house and an apartment—you should have several plans for exit and a safe meeting place agreed upon for members of your family.
If you are a parent of children, burn prevention extends beyond escape plans. With simple steps, parents can make their home more burn-proof. This includes adjusting the hot water heater to no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. At higher temperatures, burns are more likely to occur, and can often occur in only a few seconds.
As the ABA meets this month in Boston, take the time to re-evaluate burn prevention in your own life. Check out our burn prevention guide for more tips on reducing the risk of burn injury in your life. The simple steps you take now are the ones that ensure your safety in the future.
Related web resources:
American Burn Association
US Injury Mortality Data
National Safe Kids Campaign
