Preventing Burns and Scald Injuries

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PreventingBurns and ScaldInjuries
WHAM
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WHAM

• What risks are observed on scene?
• How can we keep from coming back?
• Action to take to prevent future injuries
• Materials to leave behind

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Burn and Scald Injuries

• The skin of children and the elderly burns at a
  lower temp and more deeply
• Children, ages newborn to two-years-old, are most
  frequently admitted for emergency burn care in a
  hospital

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What risks are observed on scene?

• You respond to a 24-year-old female who has
  suffered burns on her arm and torso after bumping
  into the handle of a pan of boiling water. You
  treat her burns at the scene.
• While at her home, you notice her 2-year-old son
  in the kitchen with her. The mom comments that
  she is glad the toddler did not get burned as he
  was underfoot at the time.

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How can we keep from coming back?
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Action to taketo prevent further injuries

• Remind parent of the three foot kid-free zone
  around cooking area
• Remind parent to always turn pot handles inward
• Best practice would be to keep toddler out of
  kitchen, utilize a baby gate, or have toddler in
  a high chair or playpen while parent is cooking

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Materials to leave behind

• Utilize WHAM folder from rig
• Give parent Northwest Burn Foundation Scald
  Prevention kit order form
• Water temperature gauge
• Fridge magnet
• Burn prevention tip sheet

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Further info on Preventing Burns

• Link
• http//www.nwburn.org

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WHAM developed by Central Pierce Fire
RescueCity of DuPont Fire DepartmentGig Harbor
Fire Medic OneSafe Kids Pierce
CountyTacoma-Pierce County Health Dept.
With funding fromWest Region EMS Trauma Care
Council