Burns: An All-Too-Common Injury

Burns involve partial or total destruction of the skin following an injury. Their severity depends on their depth, the area of the body affected, and their location. They can have various causes:

• Hot liquids

• Caustic substances (caustic soda, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, bleach, etc.)

• Fire

• Sun, etc.

Burns can lead to death or serious complications, yet many are preventable. In fact, several hundred deaths occur each year due to fires, particularly house fires. Furthermore, accidental burns are the leading cause of burns, especially those involving hot liquids. The goal is therefore to reduce the number of burns by taking certain precautions.

Prevention Tailored to the Situation

When caring for children, it is important to:

• Be careful with the bathwater temperature (37°C is the recommended temperature)

• Keep them away from hot objects or liquids (oven door, iron, fireplace, kettle, deep fryer, etc.)

• Not to expose them to the sun. It is essential to protect their skin and eyes.

Adults must exercise caution by taking a few precautions:

• Do not smoke in bed

• Do not spray flammable liquids onto a barbecue fire

• Do not expose yourself to the sun between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.

• Wear gloves and goggles when handling caustic substances

• Turn on the cold water first

In addition, since March 8, 2015, every home must be equipped with at least one standalone smoke detector (DAAF).
The smoke detector detects a fire as soon as smoke begins to emit and immediately sounds an alarm loud enough to wake a sleeping person so they can evacuate their home as quickly as possible to get to safety.