Burn injuries are more serious than a lot of people realize. They continue to be one of the leading causes of unintentional deaths in the US. Because people may not be aware of how serious injuries caused by burns can be, February 6th through February 12th has been designated as National Burn Awareness Week. 

Facts About Burn Injuries

To help spread awareness throughout California about the importance of burn safety, the following are some burn-related facts you should know:

• It’s estimated that around 400,000 people are treated for injuries caused by burns in the U.S. every year.
  
• In 2018, there 40,000 experienced injuries caused by burns that were bad enough to require them to go to the hospital.
  
• The odds of a U.S. resident dying due to exposure to smoke (caused by a fire) or fire are one in 1,498.
  
• An estimated 73 percent of all burn-related injuries that were treated in burn centers were the result of accidents within the home.
  
• Children under the age of five are twice as likely to be seen for burn-related injuries in hospital ERs than the general population.
  
• Around 40 percent of all burn-related injuries happen to children that are under the age of 15.
• Fire Safety Tips

Although around 96.7 percent of burn victims that are treated in burn centers survive, many of them will have significant scarring and physical disabilities that can last their entire lives. Because many burn-related incidents occur to children at home, it’s critical that you keep the following fire safety tips in mind, especially if you have kids:

• Teach your kids about fire safety: Make sure your kids don’t play with matches or lighters if they find them. Teach them to tell the nearest adult if they find them. You should also teach them to stay away from open flames (such as if there’s a fire in the fireplace).
  
• Never leave candles burning unattended: If you’re lighting a candle, don’t leave the room without putting it out.
  
• Never leave the stove or grill unattended if it’s in use. Especially if there are kids around.

Burn injuries are a serious problem in the U.S., especially where kids are concerned. Make sure to keep fire safety in mind to help prevent burn-related injuries. For more safety tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today.