Related Experiment Videos
Immersion scald burns: strategies for prevention
A M Weaver1, H N Himel, R F Edlich
1Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908.
The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|July 1, 1993
Summary
Tap water scald burns are a significant risk for vulnerable populations. A temperature-controlling valve could prevent severe injuries like those sustained by an elderly woman with disabilities.
Area of Science:
- Burn injury research
- Public health and safety
- Geriatric medicine
Background:
- Tap water scald burns disproportionately affect individuals with disabilities, young children, and the elderly.
- Bathing is a common activity where scald burn risks are present.
Observation:
- An elderly woman with a physical and neurological handicap sustained severe scald burns.
- The burns were partial and full thickness, covering 20% of her total body surface area.
Findings:
- The patient's severe scald burns resulted from tap water exposure during bathing.
- The injury was deemed life-threatening due to its severity and the patient's pre-existing conditions.
Implications:
- Temperature-controlling water valves, such as those from Shower Safe, Inc., can prevent such devastating injuries.
- Implementing safety devices can significantly reduce the incidence of tap water scald burns in at-risk populations.