The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital has called on parents, caregivers and communities to strengthen burn prevention measures at home, as the hospital continues to treat high numbers of serious childhood burn injuries each year.

The appeal comes as the hospital marks 70 years of caring for young patients across the Western Cape.

According to the hospital, hundreds of paediatric burn cases are treated annually, including scalds from hot liquids, flame burns, electrical injuries and contact burns. Most of these injuries occur in the home and largely affect children under the age of five.

Head of the Burns Unit, Dr Tomé Mendes, said burn injuries remain one of the most common and devastating forms of preventable trauma seen in young children.

“Children’s skin is thinner and more vulnerable, which means even brief exposure to heat can result in serious injury,” said Dr Mendes

Plastic surgeon Dr Destiny Links added that this vulnerability also means burns can become severe very quickly.

“Because children’s skin is significantly thinner than that of adults, heat penetrates more deeply and more rapidly, even brief exposure can result in life-altering injury,” said Dr Links

The hospital said many serious burns are linked to everyday household routines, particularly in kitchens, bathrooms and living areas. Common hazards include hot liquids, unattended cooking areas, kettles, open flames, paraffin stoves and electrical appliances.

Doctors highlighted bath-time accidents as one of the most preventable causes of severe scald injuries, especially when children are left unattended near hot water.

The hospital urged caregivers to adopt simple safety measures, including keeping hot liquids and appliances out of children’s reach, turning pot handles inward while cooking, preparing baths with cold water first, and safely storing matches, candles and lighters.

Click HERE to make us your trusted source of news on Google