The risk of getting a scald injury increases in the winter months, State health officials say, and scalding injuries can be serious. This injury affects all ages, but young children and the elderly are most vulnerable. Scald injuries are painful and require prolonged treatment and they can result in lifelong scarring and possibly death.

Scalds occur when contact with hot liquid or steam damages one or more layers of skin. Frequent sources of scald burns include hot tap water, hot beverages, hot food and steam. Most burns occur in the home, usually in the kitchen or bathroom, and a vast majority of the injuries are preventable.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400,000 Americans receive medical treatment for burn injuries with nearly half of these scald injuries. In Indiana in 2013, there were 400 injury-related hospitalizations for fire/burns, of which 194 were for scalds related to hot objects or substances. There were 5,246 emergency department visits for scald injuries, of which 1743 were for Hoosiers 19 years of age and younger.

In conjunction with Burn Awareness Week, Feb. 1-7, the American Burn Association and the Indiana State Department of Health are providing information relating to scald burns.

The American Burn Association recommends the following simple safety tips to decrease the risk to yourself and those you love from tap water scalds.

• Set home water heater thermostats to deliver water at a temperature no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit/48 degree Celsius.
• Install anti-scald or tempering devices. These heat sensitive instruments stop or interrupt the flow of water when the temperature reaches a pre-determined level and prevent hot water that is too hot from coming out of the tap.
• Provide constant adult supervision of young children or anyone who may experience difficulty removing themselves from the bath or hot water on their own.
• Fill tub to desired level before getting in. Run cold water first, and then add hot. Turn off the hot water first. This can prevent scalding in case someone should fall in while the tub fills. Mix the water thoroughly and check the temperature by moving your elbow, wrist or hand through the water before allowing someone to get in.
• Install grab bars, non-slip mats in tub or shower, and shower or bath seats for assistance getting in and out of the tub. Older adults are at higher risk for falls and may be unable to remove themselves from hot water, which may lead to scald injuries.
• Avoid flushing toilets, running water or using the dish washer while anyone is showering.

Cooking-related scalds are also preventable. Some things you can do to make your home safer from cooking-related burns include:

• Establish a “kid zone” out of the traffic path between the stove and sink where children can safely play and still be supervised. Keep young children in high chairs or play yard.
• Cook on back burners when young children are present. Keep all pot handles turned back, away from the stove edge.
• During mealtime, place hot items in the center of the table, at least 10 inches from the table edge. Use non-slip placemats instead of tablecloths if toddlers are present.
  Never drink or carry hot liquids while carrying or holding a child. Quick motions may cause spilling of the liquid onto the child.

If a burn injury does happen, cool the burn with cool (not cold) water to stop the burning process. Remove any clothing, diapers and jewelry around the injured area, cover the area with clean, loose bandages and then seek medical attention.