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As 75 to 80 per cent of burn injuries happen in and around the home, it is important for you to be aware of risks and take precautions to make your home safe for you and your family.
Included below is information from the Province of Alberta's Fire Commissioner's website and from Red Deer Emergency Services to help you learn more about burns, how to prevent them and what to do if you or a family member sustains a burn.
What is a burn?
What are the most common causes of burns?
What are the symptoms of each degree of burn?
At what temperature can water burn a person?
How do I ensure safe water temperatures in my home?
How can I help prevent burns from happening to me or my family?
What do I do if I or someone I know is burned?
What is a burn?
Very simply, a burn is damage to the skin and underlying tissue. It is caused by heat, chemicals or electricity, and may damage or destroy skin cells. Deeper burns may involve the fat, muscle or bone. Scalds result when one or more layers of skin are destroyed by contact with hot liquid or steam.
The depth of injury depends on two things:
- temperature to which the skin is exposed
- length of time the skin is exposed to the burning substance
The higher the temperature, the shorter amount of time is required to inflict a burn injury.
What are the most common causes of burns?
Children are at the greatest risk from hot tap water in the bathroom and heated food and drinks in the kitchen. In adults, burns are most often caused by hot liquids/steam, clothing ignited by a stove, or smoking while impaired by medication or alcohol.
Scald and fire burns are the two most common types of burns. There are an average of 550 hospitalizations and 8,563 emergency department visits in Alberta for burns, sunburns or frostbite.
What are the symptoms of each degree of burn?
First degree (Superficial)
- Causes sunburn, minor scalds
- Generally heals in three to five days with no scarring
Characteristics of Injury:
- Minor damage to the skin
- Colour: pink to red
- Painful
- Skin is dry without blisters
Second degree (Partial thickness)
- Damages but does not destroy top two layers of the skin
- Generally heals in 10 to 21 days
- Does not require skin graft
Characteristics of Injury:
- Skin is moist, wet and weepy
- Blisters are present
- Colour: bright pink to cherry red
- Lots of swelling
- Very painful
Third degree (Full thickness)
- Destroys all layers of the skin
- May involve fat, muscle and bone
- Will require skin graft for healing
Characteristics of Injury
- Skin may be very bright red or dry and leathery, charred, waxy white, tan or brown
- Charred veins may be visible
- Cannot feel touch in areas of full thickness injury
At what temperature can water burn a person?
Children and seniors sustain severe burns at lower temperatures and in less time than adults. Because their skin is thinner, they cannot react quickly to escape the hot water or they lack skin sensitivity due to other medial conditions.
Water temperature Time required for a third degree burn
68 degrees Celsius 1 second
64 degrees 2 seconds
60 degrees 5 seconds
56 degrees 15 seconds
52 degrees 1 minute
51 degrees 3 minutes
48 degrees 5 minutes
37 degrees Safe temperature for bathing
How do I ensure safe water temperatures in my home?
To protect your family, you can apply one of these methods:
- The thermostat of a hot water heater can be set to deliver water at around 49 degrees Celsius. Depending on the type of tank you have it is recommended that you consult an electrician.
- Devices, known as mixing valves or tempering valves, can be installed in the plumbing lines. These devices ensure that water is delivered at 49 degrees Celsius by mixing in cooler water as needed.
- Devices, known as anti-scald devices, can be installed at individual taps or faucets. If the water gets too hot, a valve inside these devices slows the water to a trickle. You then restart the water by mixing more cold water into the tap.
To install these devices, it is recommended that you contact your local plumber. It is important to note that potentially harmful bacteria can grow in water heaters if set too low. Do not lower the temperature of your household water heater below 49 degrees Celsius. Those with weak immune systems, lung and respiratory problems or organ transplants should check with their doctors before reducing the temperature of the water in their homes. Most families, however, can safely lower their water temperature to 49 degrees Celsius without concern for other health risks.
How can I help prevent burns from happening to me or my family?
- Provide constant adult supervision of young children, anyone who may experience difficulty removing themselves from hot water, or people who may not recognize the danger in turning on hot water.
- Never leave a child or dependent in the bathroom unattended while the tub is filling. Take the child or dependent with you if you must leave the bathroom.
- Always turn on the cold tap first followed by the hot, and always turn off the hot tap first followed by the cold.
- Mix the water thoroughly and check the temperature by moving your elbow, wrist or spread fingers through the water before allowing someone to get in. The water should feel warm to the touch. The safest temperature for bathing is about 37 degrees Celsius.
- Never allow young children or a person with a mental impairment to adjust the water temperature.
- Seat children facing away from faucets and so they cannot reach the faucet. Ensure the faucet is turned to the cold position.
- Provide a way to call for help (bell or whistle) for people who may need assistance or may be unable to remove themselves from the tub or shower in case of emergency.
What do I do if I or someone I know is burned?
1. Cool burn with water
Immediately pour cool water on burns or soak them for at least three to five minutes (30 to 40 minutes for a chemical injury). DO NOT USE ICE. Ice may cause more damage, stick to the burn and remove the skin. For scalds, immediately remove hot, wet clothing.
2. Do not apply ointments or butter
Use only cool water on burns. Ointments, butter, creams or salves allow the burn to retain heat, may cause infection and may hinder medical evaluation.
3. Cover the burn
Apply a soft, clean, dry dressing, bandage or sheet to the burned area. Do not break blisters, as this could let germs into the wound. Cover burn victims and keep them warm.
4. Stop, drop and roll
If your clothing catches on fire, "stop, drop and roll" in order to smother the flames.
5. See a doctor
Adults should see a doctor if the burn is larger than the size of a quarter. Infants, young children and the elderly are endangered by even small burns, and should see a doctor.
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