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Sun heated surfaces are an environmental hazard for young children
Insights
Children under two years old frequently suffer burns from hot surfaces during summer. These preventable injuries, often to the feet, occur around the home and highlight the need for parent education.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric burn injuries
- Environmental health hazards
- Public health and safety
Background:
- Children are susceptible to heat contact burns from sun-heated surfaces, particularly in hot climates during summer.
- These injuries are common and preventable, necessitating targeted educational strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the causes and outcomes of heat contact burn injuries in children caused by sun-heated surfaces.
- To identify common injury patterns and contributing factors for targeted prevention efforts.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients treated for naturally heated surface burns from January 2012 to December 2017.
- Collection of demographic and clinical data, including burn location, cause, depth, and healing time.
Main Results:
- 58 children with 118 burn wounds were identified; median age was 17 months.
- Feet were the most common site (62%), with metal thresholds and covers being frequent causes (12% and 9%).
- Most burns were partial thickness (98%), healing in a mean of 12 days, with peak incidence in June (48%).
Conclusions:
- Heat contact burns from sun-heated surfaces predominantly affect children under two years old during summer months.
- These injuries frequently occur in the home environment and are preventable.
- Findings underscore the importance of developing prevention and education materials for parents and healthcare providers in hot climates.
Aims:
Children commonly sustain heat contact type burn injuries from sun heated surfaces during the summer months in hot, sunny climates. The aim of this study was to review the causes and outcomes in a series of heat contact type burns sustained by children who touched hot sun heated surfaces.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review was performed to identify all children who sustained burn injuries due to naturally heated surfaces and were treated between January 2012 and December 2017 at Children's Hospital Colorado. Demographics of the subjects and clinical data regarding their burn injuries were collected.
Results:
A total of 58 children were identified over the study period, involving 118 burn wounds. The median age was 17 months (interquartile range = 14-23), and 33 were male (57%). Mean total body surface area (TBSA) was 1.4% (standard deviation = 1). A foot was the most commonly involved area, affecting 36 subjects (62%). The most common causes of these burn injuries were metal thresholds (n = 7, 12%) and metal covers or lids (n = 5, 9%) outside the home. The depth of the burn injury was partial thickness in 57 children (98%). The mean time to heal was 12 ± 6 days, and the majority of injuries occurred in June (n = 28, 48%).
Conclusion:
Heat contact type burn injuries from sun heated surfaces commonly affect children ⩽2 years of age during the summer months, and the majority of these injuries occur around the home environment. They are preventable injuries, and this information should be used for prevention and education materials for parents and healthcare providers, who reside in hot, sunny climates.
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