Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service supported yesterday’s National Burn Awareness Day 2020.

The day aims to increase awareness and help to reduce the number of burns and scalds occurring each year.

The 2020 campaign highlighted the increasing number of children sustaining life-altering burn injuries and how to prevent them, as well as firework safety and advice for Halloween.

The service revealed that:

  • Scalds are the most common cause of burn injury in both adults and children, representing 43% of acute burn injuries.
  • It is estimated that on average, 110 children every day are seen in emergency departments with burn injuries – 46 as a result of a hot cup of tea or coffee spill.
  • The majority of burn injuries occurring to children are between 3 and 6pm.
  • The most common place of injury for children is in the home – 49% of whom are burnt in the kitchen.
  • Burn cooling is critical in the initial first aid response to injury – applying cool running water for 20 minutes is considered best practice.

Craig Drinkald, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s area manager for prevention, said: “The important messages and top tips we are promoting about National Burn Awareness Day are also useful when planning for Halloween. Candles and jack-o-lanterns bring fire hazards, and with children dressing up in fancy dress costumes, National Burn Awareness Day provides an opportunity to remind parents and carers to only buy costumes from reputable retailers and to always check the label.

“Clothing will always burn if in contact with naked flames, but some materials burn much faster than others, so please be vigilant at all times. The Children’s Burns Trust website has a fantastic selection of resources and information to help you prevent burns, and to be prepared for what to do if they do occur – in the home, the workplace or at school.”

Here are some useful do’s and don’ts the campaign is urging people to be mindful of this year:

DO

  • Install smoke alarms on each floor and test regularly
  • Keep hot drinks out of reach of babies and young children
  • Make and practice Fire Escape Plans with the whole family
  • Run COLD water first in the bath or sink before adding hot water – test the temperature
  • Install thermostatic mixing valves in all hot water outlets
  • Keep saucepans at the back of the stove NOT near the front – turn handles to the back
  • Keep kettles, irons, hair straighteners or wires out of reach
  • Keep secure fire screens in front of open fires, heaters and radiators
  • Store matches and lighters out of reach
  • Store chemicals, cleaners and acids out of reach

DO NOT

  • Drink hot drinks while nursing/holding a baby or child
  • Put a baby or child into a bath or sink until the water has been tested
  • Warm baby bottles in the microwaves
  • Leave hair straighteners unattended
  • Allow children near BBQs or garden chemicals
  • Allow children near fireworks
  • Leave children unattended in the kitchen, bathroom or near fires and heaters

For more information about National Burn Awareness Day and the Children’s Burns Trust, visit https://www.cbtrust.org.uk/