To mark Burn Awareness Week, Sun Peaks Fire Rescue’s Captain Colin Cannon will be teaching students at the Discovery Centre about the dangers and treatment of burn injuries.
Fire and burn injuries are the third leading cause of injury and death for children. A survey by Safe Kids Canada found that 70 per cent of Canadian parents didn’t know that most common cause of burn injuries to children is scalds.
“Most adults realize that children need to be kept safe from fire or hot objects like the stove but they don’t realize that hot liquids are just as dangerous,” said Cannon.
The most common cause of burn injuries is from hot liquids, such as spilled hot drinks and hot tap water, rather than fire.
Because a child’s skin is thinner and more sensitive than an adult’s, their skin burns four times more quickly and more deeply than an adult’s skin at the same temperature. Most home hot water heaters in Canada are set at 60 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, a child’s skin can burn in just one second.
If a burn occurs, cool the area with cold water. Don’t use ice or oils, and cool the burn for at least 10 minutes.
For more information on Burn Awareness, visit: www.burnfund.org
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