Loyola burn surgeons, Anthony Baldea, MD, Michael Mosier, MD and Art Sanford, MD are available to talk about burns and burn prevention.Burn patients may be available.
Feb 1 – 7 is Burn Awareness Week sponsored by the American Burn Association.
Operating the largest burn center in Illinois and a regional leader in burn care, Loyola Medicine delivers clinically integrated care for the most complex cases.
Loyola's outstanding success rates and multidisciplinary approach are recognized by the American College of Surgeons and American Burn Association.
Scald prevention is the focus this year. Loyola Burn Center is internationally renowned as a leader in treating burns of all severity, and is the “go to” source of hospitals in the Midwest for the most severe cases.
More than 60 percent of the burn injury patients at Loyola are children.“Cooking injuries such as touching hot stoves, pulling down pots are frequent sources. Also, being scalded by bath water is a problem,” says Art Sanford, MD, burn department, Loyola University Health System.
“In winter, heat sources such as fireplace fires, room heaters and even electric blankets can cause burns,” Sanford says. “Older adults also are victims of scalds due to cooking injuries (bathrobe or shirt sleeves catching fire over stove fires).”
Frostbite, he notes, is also a burn and can occur within minutes of exposure.
Loyola endorses the following information from the American Burn Association:
Set water heater temperature to no higher than 120°F/48°C, or just below the medium setting Create a “no kid zone” in the kitchen around stoves, ovens and hot items
Keep hot drinks away from the edge of tables and counters
Use a travel mug with a tight‐fitting lid for all hot drinks
Place pots and pans on the back burner with handles turned away from the edge of the stove
THE FACTS
The average annual cost of scald injuries is $44 million
Over 136,000 children were seen in emergency rooms for burn injuries in 2011
1,100 children die each year from fire and burns
TIPSNever leave a child unattended in the bathtub; if you must leave, take the child(ren) with you
Never allow young children to adjust the water temperature or sit near faucet handles
Never set anything hot on tabletops within reach of young children who can pull them down
Never allow appliance cords (slow‐cookers, deep‐ fryers, coffeemakers) to dangle over the counter edge
BURN CARE If a burn injury does happen: 1) Cool the burn with COOL (not cold) water to stop the burning process 2) Remove all clothing and/or diaper from the injured area 3) Cover the area with a clean dry sheet or bandages 4) Seek medical attention.
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