BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The Bakersfield Fire Department in conjunction with the Bakersfield Firefighter’s Burn Foundation and the Grossman Burn Center at San Joaquin Community Hospital want you to be aware that “Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire!” February 7th through the 13th, 2010, is National Burn Awareness Week and scald burns are the focus of this year’s awareness campaign.

What

A scald is a burn injury from hot liquid or steam that damages one or more layers of skin. The extent of the injury is dependant on the temperature of the liquid and the duration of contact. In 2007, nearly 28,000 scald burns were reported in the U.S. . This was 30% of all burns reported that year (National Burn Repository). Of these burns, 60 to 75% were to children under 5 years of age.

Where

The most common areas where these injuries occur is in the kitchen and the bathroom of the home.

How

Many of the injuries are due to spilling hot liquids while cooking or spilling hot beverages, tap water that is too hot in the bathroom. For a liquid that is 155 degrees F it takes only 1 second to develop a third degree burn. Fresh coffee is usually served at 180 F.

Prevention

Many of the ways a person gets a scald burn is preventable.

Cooking

• Establish a “No kid zone” in the kitchen while cooking.
• Always turn pot handles inward.
• Never carry children when cooking or handling hot food.
• Use oven mitts or pot holders to handle hot pots and pans.

Hot Beverages

• Never carry children when drinking or carrying hot beverages.
• Always keep cups and soups out of reach of little ones.
• Use a spill proof cup or mug with a lid when traveling.

Tap Water

• Adequate and constant supervision is the single most important factor in preventing tap water scalds. Adult supervision is the key.
• Never allow children to run their own bath.
• Turn the faucet to cold when starting and ending the water.
• Always test the water temperature with your hand or bath thermometer. 100 F is the recommended temperature for bath water. ( A cooking thermometer can be used under the flowing tap for 3 to 5 minutes)
• Set the water heater to 120 F or just below medium for water heaters that do not have a numerical setting.

If a burn occurs:

• Cool the burned area with cool (not cold) running water. Never put ice or cold water on a burn.
• Wash the wound gently with a mild soap and water.
• Leave the blisters intact.
• Never apply butter or grease. It can trap the heat and continue to burn.
• Never apply toothpaste. It can cause infection.
• Consult the Burn Center or seek medical attention for large burns or more serious burns that involve the hands, feet, face, genitals.