Every year in February, National Burn Awareness Week is observed. This is a time when RVFD shares burn awareness and prevention messages. This year, National Burn Awareness Week will be held February 5-11, 2023, with the theme “Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire!” In cooperation with The American Burn Association, the focus will be on common risks of injuries from hot liquids, steam, and hot bath water.

Burn injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury in our Nation where tragically, children, the elderly, and the disabled are especially vulnerable to burn injuries, and almost one- third of all burn injuries occur in children under the age of 15. Annually, in the United States, approximately 400,000 people receive medical care for treatment of burn injuries. In 2018 alone, there were 3,655 deaths from fire and smoke inhalation and another 40,000 people were treated in hospitals for burn related injuries. Compared to the overall population, children under five were 2.0 times as likely to be seen for burn injuries at a hospital emergency department. Young adults from 20 to 29 had 1.4 times the risk, and those in the 30-39 age group had 1.3 times the risk of the general population. The primary causes of injury include fire-flame, scalds, contact with hot objects, electrical and chemicals. Most of the injuries occur in the home. Today, 96.8% of those who suffer burn injuries will survive. Unfortunately, many of those survivors will sustain serious scarring, life-long physical disabilities, and adjustment difficulties.

Significant research and medical advances have dramatically improved burn care and treatment, aided rehabilitation, shortened hospital stays, and increased burn survival rates. Aftercare support for the physical and emotional effects of burns has also played a key role in the successful reintegration of burn survivors into our communities. Furthermore, burn safety education and prevention efforts continue to reduce the number of people who suffer burns each year. Many people devote their lives and careers to treating, caring for, supporting and rehabilitating burn injury survivors, including those performing vital work in burn research and development. There are dedicated firefighters who risk their own lives every day to protect others, as well as burn foundations and other life safety professionals who promote burn injury awareness and prevention.