Fifteen elderly people died and more than 400 were treated for burn and scald injuries in Victorian hospitals over two years, a new Monash University Accident Research Centre report has revealed.
The latest edition of Hazard, published by the Victorian Injury Surveillance and Applied Research Unit (VISAR), also showed that more than 1700 young children were treated for burn and scald injuries during the same period.
Senior researcher Ms Erin Cassell said although burns and scalds in the very young and very old had decreased in recent years, more work was needed to further protect the most vulnerable members of the community.
The report analysed data on death and hospital treated for burns and scalds between July 2001 and June 2003.
"Burns and scalds are among the most distressing injuries that a child can receive. Although rarely fatal in children, they may cause considerable pain, need prolonged treatment and can result in lifelong disfigurement," Ms Cassell said. "Elderly burn patients are more likely to suffer serious injuries or die, though the combination of frailty and late admissions could partly explain this phenomenon."
More than 70 per cent of burns and scalds to young children occurred in the home from hot tea and coffee or other hot fluid (usually heated water, not tap water). The most frequently injured parts of the body were the arms and hands followed by the head, face, neck and trunk.
Scalds among the elderly were mainly from hot fluids (usually boiling water), contact with hot drinks and running hot water, such as during a shower. Eight of the 15 deaths were caused by smoke, fire or flames, and the other seven from scalds from hot fluids.
The report recommended burn and scald prevention education and media campaigns, including appropriate first aid.
"Burns and scalds are among the most costly of non-fatal injuries in terms of ongoing medical care and rehabilitation and psychological costs due to scarring and disfigurement," Ms Cassell said.
"If we're serious about further reducing the burden of burns and scalds on the most vulnerable groups in our community, we need to combine education, publicity, regulation and enforcement, incentives and safety design innovations."