**9. Risk factors of burns in children: social, economic, and environmental issues related with burns in children**

The risk of burn is the highest in children under 2 years old and in boys [5, 6]. Most of burns occur at home, when the child is under the supervision of parent. Appropriate supervision seems even more important than safe environment in prevention of burns in children [16].

Most of burns in children less than 2 years old occur when their mother or father is in the same room. The researchers found that family characteristics play a crucial role in increasing the likelihood of the injury. Lower maternal education, young age of mother and unemployment, and lone parenthood are identified risk factors of burns in children [17].

It is worth to underline that economic situation of the family is also important, because differences in the income result in differences in living conditions. The home environment plays an important role in the risk of burn injury among children.

Among effective strategies that reduce number of flame burns in pediatric population are installation of smoke alarms and smoke detectors [16].

According to the WHO, the possible modifications of the environment that can reduce the number of thermal injuries among children are improved heating and lighting equipment at homes [16].

Health improvement can be also obtained by reducing number of pediatric patients with burns, correct first aid given after the injury, and organization of specialized health-care cen-

Problem of Burns in Children: Opportunities for Health Improvement

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.74490

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ABCDE airway, breathing, circulation, disabilities, and environment control

ters and rehabilitation services for victims of burns.

ICD The International Classification of Diseases

I confirm there are no conflicts of interest.

TBSA total body surface area

WHO World Health Organization

Address all correspondence to: agata\_kawalec@wp.pl

Geneva: World Health Organization; 2008. p. 24

i Epidemiologii. 2014;**95**(2):394-399

Department of Hygiene, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

[1] Barret-Nerin J, Herndon DN. Principles and Practice of Burn Surgery. Marcel Dekker;

[2] World Health Organization. Burns. Fact sheet. Updated August 2017. Available from:

[3] Mock C, Peck M, Peden M, Krug E, editors. A WHO Plan for Burn Prevention and Care.

[4] Lee KJ, Marcdante K. Burns. In: Marcdante K, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB, Behrman RE, editors. Nelson Essentials of Paediatrics, 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2011.

[5] Kawalec A, Pawlas K. Struktura oparzeń wśród dzieci na Dolnym Śląsku (Polska). Structure of burns in children in Lower Silesia (Poland) in 2010-2012. Problemy Higieny

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs365/en/ [Accessed: 2018-01-08]

**Acronyms and abbreviations**

**Conflict of interest**

**Author details**

**References**

Agata Maria Kawalec

2004. p. 412

pp. 156-158

The own review of the studies about environmental risk factors of burns in children indicates that effective strategy in prevention of scalds in pediatric population is lowering the temperature in the water heaters [17]. Moreover, several studies identified the lack of hot water supply in the household as a risk factor of scalds in children [17].

The arrangement of the apartment that decreases the likelihood of childhood injury includes limited access to the cooking area (and hot fluids). The own review of the studies about environmental risk factors of burns in children indicates that most burn accidents occur in the kitchen [17]. Kitchen without door was found to increase risk of burn injury [17]. The WHO also pays attention to the arrangement of the apartment and separation of cooking area from living area [16].
