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The causes, cost, and prevention of childhood burn injuries
1San Francisco Injury Center for Research and Prevention, San Francisco General Hospital, CA 94110.
Insights
In 1985, fire and burn injuries tragically killed 1,461 children in the US. Prevention strategies like sprinklers and smoke detectors could avert over 75% of these devastating childhood fire deaths.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric injury prevention
- Public health
- Burn epidemiology
Background:
- Fire and burn injuries represent a significant public health concern for children in the United States.
- In 1985, these injuries resulted in substantial mortality, hospitalization, and treatment burdens, with significant life years lost.
- Societal costs associated with childhood burn deaths and injuries were estimated at approximately $3.5 billion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the scope and impact of fire and burn injuries among children in the United States in 1985.
- To identify key contributing factors and potential prevention strategies for childhood fire and burn injuries.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of national data on childhood fire and burn injury mortality and morbidity for the year 1985.
- Application of a "cost of burn injury" model to estimate societal economic losses.
- Identification of specific injury scenarios, including house fires and scalds.
Main Results:
- In 1985, 1,461 children (0-19 years) died from fire/burns, with 23,638 hospitalized and 440,000 treated.
- Children aged 0-4 years accounted for 47% of fire-related deaths, primarily in house fires.
- Preventable measures like residential sprinklers, smoke detectors, fire-safe cigarettes, and child-resistant lighters could prevent over 75% of fire deaths.
Conclusions:
- Fire and burn injuries impose a severe burden on young children, particularly those under 5 years old.
- Implementing widespread fire safety measures, including residential sprinklers and smoke detectors, is crucial for reducing childhood fire fatalities.
- While effective interventions exist for some burn types (e.g., tap water scalds), further research is needed for less apparent issues like kitchen scalds and gasoline-related burns.
Abstract:
In 1985, fire and/or burn injuries killed 1461 children aged 0 to 19 years in the United States; an estimated 23,638 children were hospitalized and 440,000 were treated for burns. More than 101,000 life years were lost. A "cost of burn injury" model suggests a dollar value of societal losses from childhood burn deaths and injuries at approximately $3.5 billion. Very young children (0 to 4 years) dying in house fires accounted for 47% of these deaths. Preventing fire deaths through residential sprinklers, smoke detectors, fire-safe cigarettes, and child-resistant lighters would prevent more than three quarters of all childhood fire/burn deaths. While interventions exist for tap water scalds, solutions to the problems of "kitchen" scald and gasoline-involved flame burns are less apparent.