National Burn Awareness Week focuses on scald prevention

Many people in California suffer from serious scald burns while food is being cooked or hot liquids are being served. In 2013, there were nearly 70,000 hospital emergency room visits in the U.S. that were related to scald burn injuries. Children under the age of 4 suffered from almost 25 percent of these injuries.

National Burn Awareness Week is a week that is designated for raising awareness about serious burns. This year, the American Burn Association’s Scald Prevention Campaign will promote the 30th annual National Burn Awareness Week between Feb. 1 and Feb. 7. During the week, it will spread the message of “Scald Prevention”.

Scald burn injuries can occur even when water has not reached the boiling point of 212° Fahrenheit. Water that is 148° Fahrenheit can cause a severe burn after a person is exposed to it for two seconds. Children and elderly adults are most at risk for scald burns because people in each of these groups tend to have thinner skin. Between 80 and 95 percent of scald burns happen while hot liquids are being served, drank or used in cooking. One of the most common hot liquids associated with scald burns is coffee, a drink that is commonly served at 175° Fahrenheit.

A person who has visited the emergency room after a scald burn injury may be able to seek compensation if the injury was the result of another party’s negligence. For example, if the burn injury was caused by an accident at a restaurant or hotel, the business owner may be held responsible for the victim’s damages. A personal injury attorney can often assist in identifying the at-fault party and seeking compensation on behalf of the victim.