Being burned or scalded as a child means years of painful treatment and, in the worst cases, hundreds of operations to release the scar tissue as they grow.
Who is helping children in the UK?
A burn injury is for life. Being burned or scalded as a child means years of painful treatment and in the worst cases hundreds of operations to release the scar tissue as they grow.
The psychological impact of a burn injury is also immense, particularly when burn survivors reach their teenage years and have to cope with self-image and self-confidence issues. The Children’s Burns Trust is the only UK children’s charity working nationally who are devoted solely to these areas.
What do we know of the latest figures?
The latest figures, released by The Children’s Burns Trust and the British Burn Association, show that in 2016 more than 600 children a month required admission to an NHS Burns Service following a burn or scald injury. Shockingly, this figure only relates to the more serious injuries and does not include the thousands who were seen for more minor burns in A&E departments up and down the country.
Of the figure admitted to a specialist burns service, over 50% were children under the age of 5. That’s more than 11 toddlers every single day.
What can be done to help?
Providing rehabilitation support for burned and scald injured children and their families, as well as prevention and awareness campaigns for which there is little or no national funding, The Children’s Burns Trust make a positive difference in three ways:
- Raising awareness of burns and scalds to children with PREVENTION campaigns;
- Working with NHS professionals to provide direct help and funding for REHABILITATION;
- Giving direct financial SUPPORT to families and hospitals, providing advice on how to access burn related information.
The Children’s Burns Trust work closely with organisations such as The British Burn Association (BBA), Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), the Government’s Fire Kills campaign and the National Fire Chiefs Council to raise awareness and help spread the all-important message of prevention and the importance of good first aid.
