Definition of Burns and Scalds
A burn is an injury to the skin or other organic tissue primarily caused by heat or due to radiation, radioactivity, electricity, friction or contact with chemicals.1
A scald is a type of burn when hot liquids destroy some or all of the cells in the skin or other tissues.1
Impact of Burns and Scalds in WA
Who does it impact?
In Western Australia between 2015 and 2019 there were:2
- 5,755 hospitalisations due to burns and scalds.
- 62.9% of hospitalisations for burns and scalds were males.
- people aged 25-44 had the highest incidence of burns and scalds.
In Western Australia Aboriginal people make up 3.1% of the population, however between 2011 and 2015 16.2% of burns and scalds hospitalisations were Aboriginal people.2,3
Where does it occur?
In Western Australia, between 2015 and 2019, the three regions with the greatest difference in hospitalisation rate compared to the WA State hospitalisation rate, were the Kimberley (286% higher), Midwest (63% higher) and Goldfields (57% higher).
Impact on health system
In Western Australia in 2019, there were 1,307 hospitalisations for burns and scalds, consuming an estimated 6,263 bed days at an approximate cost of $12,846,798.2
Determinants of Burns and Scalds
Environmental Hazards
Houses have a number of burns hazards, which increase the risk of a burn injury. These hazards include hot water, hot drinks, ovens, cook tops, kettles, irons, heaters, open fires, matches, chemicals and electrical outlets.4
There are a number of electrical hazards around the home that can cause electrical burns such as electric fires, electric blankets, kettles, irons and faulty power boards.1
Occupation
An individual’s risk of burns and scalds can be increased due to their occupation. This increased risk is specific to each occupation, for example there is a higher risk of scalds among hospitality workers, electrical burns among electricians and tar burns among builders.1
Income and socioeconomic status
Socioeconomic status is associated with an increased risk of a burn injury.4 These socioeconomic status factors include ethnicity (non-Caucasian), low income, single parents, low literacy, low maternal education, unemployment, poor living conditions and overcrowding.4
Effective Interventions
Smoke alarm legislation
The instillation and active use of smoke alarms in homes play a vital role in reducing the number of deaths and injuries associated with residential fires.5
Western Australian example: Under Western Australia’s Building Regulations 2012, homeowners are required to install smoke alarms; prior to the sale or transfer of ownership, where a dwelling is rented under a residential tenancy agreement and where a dwelling is made available for hire.6
Installation and maintenance of smoke alarms campaigns
Campaigns and community initiatives that advocate for smoke alarms to be; installed in areas that will not set off false alarms, tested monthly, maintained yearly and powered to the mains of the house where possible, are all important in the prevention of burns and scalds.
Western Australian example: The Department of Fire and Emergency Services of Western Australia run a number of awareness raising activities and provide a suite of information regarding smoke alarm installation, maintenance and legislations.
Fire skills training
Training for children around appropriate fire safe behaviours, how to react in an emergency and what actions to take when a fire breaks, is important to increasing children’s knowledge of fire safety skills.
Western Australian example: The Department of Fire and Emergency Services of Western Australia run a variety of campaigns/programs that target school-aged young people and communities at risk. Further information about how to get involved in these activities is available on their website.
Discover organisations and programs in WA
Know Injury
The Know Injury program provides knowledge, skills and networking opportunities, to support and enable practitioners to deliver evidence-informed injury prevention...
Farmsafe Australia
Our mission is to improve the wellbeing and productivity of Australian agriculture through enhanced health and safety awareness and practices.
UWA Burn Injury Research Unit
The burn injury research unit is focused on translational and basic research into burn injury, wound repair, scarring, fibrosis and...
Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH)
Who we are The PCH Burns Service is the paediatric component of the Burns Service of Western Australia. Conditions we...
Fiona Stanley Hospital, State Burns Service
The State Burns Service provides comprehensive care for an anticipated 275 inpatients and 3500 outpatients from across Western Australia each...
Australian & New Zealand Burn Association (ANZBA)
The Australian & New Zealand Burn Association (ANZBA) is the peak body for health professionals responsible for the care of...
Download Injury Matters Burns and Scalds Resources
Other Resources
AIHW, Injury in Australia: burns and other thermal causes
AIHW, Hospitalised burn injuries Australia 2013 – 2014
Kidsafe WA, Burns and Scalds Childhood Injury Bulletin
WHO, A plan for burn prevention and care
WA Department of Health, Incidence and costs of injury in WA in 2012
References
- World Health Organization. Burns. WHO https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/burns (2018).
- Data generated using HealthTracks Reporting, by the Epidemiology Branch, WA Department of Health in collaboration with the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRC-SI), March 2021.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. Western Australia, People. https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/5 (2021).
- Department of Health, Western Australia. Burn Injury Model of Care. (2009).
- Gilbert, S. W. Estimating Smoke Alarm Effectiveness in Homes. Fire Technol 57, 1497–1516 (2021).
- Government of Western Australia, Department of Justice. Building Regulations 2012. (2021).
