STOW, Mass. — Burn Awareness Week is underway, and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents that more than two-thirds of severe burns happen at home.

"Burn injuries contribute to about 5,000 emergency room visits in Massachusetts each year, and many of the most serious burns involve young children," State Fire Marshal Davine said. "Burn Awareness Week is an opportunity to promote safety and prevention – especially at home, where the most severe injuries are likely to take place."

Coordinated by the American Burn Association, Burn Awareness Week is observed in the first full week of February. This year's theme is "Burn Prevention Starts Where You Live," a reminder that we can take simple but meaningful precautions to prevent burn injuries in the place where they most often occur.

According to Massachusetts Department of Public Health data, burn-related emergency room visits have declined from more than 6,000 to less than 4,650 in recent years, with children accounting for more than 20 percent of patients on average.

The Massachusetts Burn Injury Reporting System, or MBIRS, tracks severe burns that cover 5 percent or more of the patient's body. These incidents are reported to the State Fire Marshal's office and have fallen from 369 in 2020 to 275 in 2023, the most recent year with complete data. Children are significantly overrepresented in these numbers, however, accounting for more than 38 percent of severe burn injuries.

Nearly 70 percent of MBIRS-reported burns took place at home, and nearly 60 percent were scalds – making them by far the most common type of severe burn injury in Massachusetts. They are most often associated with cooking liquids such as boiling water, oil, or grease, followed by hot food and beverages such as coffee, tea, or soup. Children under 5 were the most frequently injured.

State Fire Marshal Davine offered the following safety steps to reduce the risk of burn injuries:

Cooking safety

• Keep children away from stoves, grills, and campfires: set a three-foot "No Kid Zone" around these hot spots
• Turn pot handles inward on the stovetop to prevent bumps and spills
• Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves to keep clothing from coming in contact with burners

Hot drink safety 

• Never hold a baby and a cup of hot liquid. A wiggling baby can cause a spill that hurts both of you  
• Use a travel mug when drinking hot beverages around babies and young children. Keep it closed when not actively sipping to minimize or prevent scald burns.
• Keep hot liquids away from babies and small children. Put drinks and soups in the center of the table away from curious fingers. 
• Consider placemats instead of tablecloths to reduce the risk that a child will pull a hot drink or plate of food onto themselves

Tap water safety

• It takes only one second for water at 155?F to cause a third-degree burn
• Set your hot water heater to 125?F or less (Massachusetts law requires a temperature between 110?F and 130?F)
• Babies and toddlers can turn on hot water in the bath, so always supervise young children in the tub and face them away from faucets

For more information on Burn Awareness Week, visit the American Burn Association or the Department of Fire Services' website.

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