Burns advice in advance of celebrations

MEDICAL experts are backing an awareness campaign and offering advice on treating burns in the runup to Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations.

The information comes as new statistics show an alarming number of UK children are experiencing lifechanging burn injuries every single day.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is helping to raise awareness of this and provide tips on burn-related first aid.

Claire Porter, lead nurse burns and plastics at Leicester’s Hospitals said: “Burn prevention and good first aid are key to reducing the number of burns and scalds occurring in the UK every day. In 2016, 6,637 children were seriously burned or scalded. In these scenarios remember the gold standard for first aid is cool the burn for 20 minutes with tap water, call for help and cover with clingfilm.

“Chemical burns from using household cleaning products can cause serious burns. Acid attacks are not just isolated to London and knowing what to do an emergency situation like this could save a person from a lifetime of treatment and disfigurement. In this event call report it on 999, remove contaminated clothing carefully and rinse immediately with running water.”

The call coincides with National Burn Awareness day - October 18 - as well as the release of the figures from The Children’s Burns Trust, together with the British Burn Association.

In 2016 more than 600 children a month required admission to an NHS burns service following a serious burn or scald injury. Thousands more were treated for more minor burns in A&E departments.

Of those requiring specialist treatment more than half were under five. That’s more than 11 toddlers every day.