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[Children's scalds from tearing of hot water bottle]
Rolando Saavedra O1, Fresia Solís F2, Carmina Domic C2
1Centro de Rehabilitación COAMQUEM, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
Preventive measures and quality standards significantly reduced hot-water bottle burns in children. Following an initial surge, child scalds from hot-water bottle ruptures decreased by over 80% due to safety regulations and public awareness campaigns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Burn Prevention
- Public Health Interventions
- Medical Device Safety
Background:
- A notable increase in pediatric scald burns from hot-water bottle ruptures occurred in Chile around 2000.
- The Aid to Burned Children Corporation (COA-NIQUEM) initiated public awareness campaigns and alerted authorities to the issue.
- National quality certification standards for hot-water bottles were subsequently implemented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of implemented preventive strategies and quality certification standards.
- To assess the impact on childhood burns resulting from hot-water bottle device failures.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 795 pediatric patients (under 15) treated for hot-water bottle ruptures between 2000 and 2014.
- Analysis of burn frequency attributed to hot-water bottle rupture.
- Comparison of epidemiological profiles during the initial (2000-2004) and final (2005-2014) five-year periods.
Main Results:
- An initial 272.7% increase in burns was observed (2000-2004), followed by a significant decrease of 81.3% (2005-2014).
- Demographic data, seasonality, and surgical needs remained consistent across both periods.
- The number of burn locations decreased, with a concentration in a single burn site (77.8%).
- Anatomical distribution shifted, with lower limbs affected initially, and later including abdominal and pelvic regions.
Conclusions:
- A substantial reduction in pediatric hot-water bottle burns was achieved.
- Significant shifts in epidemiological characteristics of these burns were observed.
- These positive outcomes correlate with the introduction of preventive measures, manufacturing standards, and quality control regulations.
Introduction:
Children scalded by the tearing of hot-water bottles presented a sudden and significa tive increase around 2000 in Chile. For this reason the Aid to Burned Children Corporation (COA-NIQUEM) publicized prevention concepts concerning the careful use of this device and raised a voice of alarm to authorities. Later, the National Normalization Institute introduced quality certification standards for hot water bottles sold in the country.
Objectives:
Determine the impact of preventive measures and quality certification for hot water bottles in burns caused by tearing of the device on children.
Patients And Method:
Review of 795 patients under 15 admitted with injuries caused by hot-water bottle rupture between 2000 and 2014 at COANIQUEM Santiago. The frecuency of burns by the ethiological agent is determined and the epidemiological profile are compared in the initial and final quinquenial period.
Results:
Between 2000-2004, an increase of 272.7% was recorded and then a decrease of 81.3 % was found between 2005-2014. Demographic characteristics, month of occurrence and need of some kind of surgery were similar in both periods. The number of locations and injuries diminished, and are concentrated in one burn (77.8%). In the first period the main anatomical region affected was lower limbs and in the second period abdominal and pelvis are also frequent.
Conclusions:
An important decrease of burns by hot-water bottle rupture with significant changes in their epidemiological characteristic is verified. This coincides with preventive measures and manufacturing standards regulations and quality control.