Dec. 10, 1999
UCSD REGIONAL BURN CENTER
RELEASES 1998 BURN STATISTICS
(Continued from cover page)
“This is an opportunity to remind people
that most burn accidents involving young children occur in the
home and involve hot liquids or cooking,” said John Hansbrough,
M.D., Director, UCSD Regional Burn Center. “To prevent these
accidents, which happen quickly and are often quite serious, younger
children in particular should not be in the kitchen during cooking
and hot liquids should be kept out of reach. We see more adolescent
patients during the months corresponding with school vacations,
which may be associated with decreased adult supervision and recreational
activities that take place during leisure time.”
Four year olds through 12-year-olds was the smallest group of
pediatric patients and were primarily injured in home accidents,
with most of these involving cooking and scalding accidents. Contact
with hot objects such as curling irons and clothing irons, hot
coals, “popper” fireworks, gasoline, gunpowder and barbecues
also account for burn accidents to young children. These accidents
frequently result in third degree burns, the most serious form
of burn, often requiring skin grafting.
Children under four years of age, the largest pediatric patient
group, represented 81 percent of children who were injured in
the home, with scalding as the most common injury, often involving
coffee and tea spills.
Adults accounted for the largest number of admission (205). A
large percentage of injuries in adults were from direct fire and
flames, with cooking related injuries being the next most common
cause of burns. Once again, the majority of adults were burned
in the home, but injuries also occurred in the work place, as
well as during recreational activities. Men accounted for 66 percent
of the admissions and 34 percent were females.
Elderly patients, 65 years and older, (39) were predominately
injured at home and for the most part were injured while doing
routine household activities.
The UCSD Regional Burn Center was established in 1973 to provide
specialized medical care and rehabilitation for severely burned
patients. In the past 26 years, the Burn Center has treated thousands
of patients. The Center, with its eighteen-bed inpatient facility,
outpatient clinic and additional research and patient care resources,
is the only comprehensive burn program in San Diego and Imperial
counties.
Media Contact: Eileen Callahan (619) 543-6163
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