Start safe: Protect our little ones from preventable injuries this burns season

Burns are among the most serious and preventable injuries that affect children. As winter approaches and we mark Burns Week in May, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, together with our partners, the Children’s Hospital Trust and ChildSafe South Africa, urge all caregivers, parents and communities to take action to prevent burns, especially with young children.

The department sees an increase in burns admissions between May and August every year. From Ceres to Cape Town, in the Western Cape, emergency medical services, primary healthcare facilities (clinics), district hospitals and tertiary facilities respond to burns. 

Clinics are often the first point of care. It is better for burns to be prevented, but should a child be injured, early intervention is important, and clinic staff are trained to support you.

Many children may be referred from their local clinic or district hospital to Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital for specialist care. In 2024, the hospital conducted over 3 000 outpatient consults in the burns clinic and admitted 586 patients to our burns ward, with the majority of admissions being considered serious burns. More than 80% of these admissions were due to children being exposed to hot liquids, such as boiling water, spilled warm drinks, like tea, or bath water being too hot. 
 

Voices from the frontline

“It happened so quickly. One minute I was preparing the cold water for her bath and the next, she was hurt. She pulled the kettle’s cord and the hot water from the kettle caused burns,” shared a mom whose daughter was admitted to the burns ward at RCWMCH. The Ceres mom encouraged all parents to check their home for hazards. “I spoke to other moms, and they told me how it happened to their kids, check your homes and learn how to keep your children safe from burns.”

Highlighting the need for burns prevention in children, Dr Tome Mendes, who leads surgical care in the Burns Unit at RCWMCH, explained: “The management of burn injuries aims to reduce the impact a burn injury has on a child. Unfortunately, many of the injuries we see are major – requiring admission for weeks to months and resulting in inevitable long-term complications for the patient, as well as their families. We also know that most of the injuries we see were honest accidents – many of which could have been prevented had there been more awareness around how to prevent a burn, as well as how to react and deliver first aid in the event of a burn.  With adequate prevention and first aid, we would see less pressure on our burns unit, as well as more minor injuries that heal with less complications.”

Burns impact people in many ways. Dr Elaine Erasmus, a physician with special focus on paediatric emergency medicine at Tygerberg Hospital, reflects on the potential life-long impact of burns. “A burn is not just a skin injury; it’s a lifelong wound to a child’s future. Burns are one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death among children. We see their devasting impact daily, but most burns can be stopped before they happen. Creating safe homes, educating caregivers, and ensuring quick access to care is not optional. It’s our shared responsibility.”

Zaitoon Rabaney, Executive Director at ChildSafe South Africa, a non-profit organisation, committed to injury prevention in children, adds that the prevention of burns in children is the best treatment: “Prevention remains the most effective way to protect children from the devastating impact of burn injuries. By addressing risks at home, in schools and in our communities, we can significantly reduce these life-altering injuries. Burn injuries are a pressing public health issue in South Africa, particularly among children, with approximately 1.6 million incidents occurring annually. Shockingly, statistics show that 1 in every 39 children under the age of five experiences a burn injury each year - this translates to at least 1 child in every classroom in every school being at risk. Caregivers, educators and communities have a critical role to play in creating safer environments and raising awareness about burn prevention. Together, we can ensure fewer children experience the pain and long-term consequences of these injuries. At ChildSafe, we remain committed to empowering families and communities with the knowledge and resources needed to keep children safe.”

Data shows that 90% of burns happen at home, and mostly, in the kitchen. It is often children in the 0 – 5 years age group who are affected by burn injuries. 

Here are some ways to make your home safer:

• Always keep an eye on young children.
• Turn pot handles inward and keep hot pots stable on the stove or fire.
• Keep kettles and cords out of children’s reach.
• Place hot drinks, candles and lamps away from little hands.
• Test food temperature before feeding children.
• Run cold water first, then hot, when preparing a bath and always test with your elbow.
• Fully extinguish fires and embers with water to cool them down. 

In case your little one is hurt, you should:

• Run cool water over the burn for 20 minutes, this helps reduce pain and swelling.
• If 20 minutes isn’t possible, cool the area for as long as you can.
• Cover the burn with a clean, wet cloth.
• Go to the nearest clinic or hospital or call an ambulance at 10177.
• Don’t apply creams, oils, or home remedies. These can make the burn worse and harder to treat.

For more information, please visit: https://childsafe.org.za/burns/

Strengthening burns services 

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is also working to strengthen our burns services in the province, with the support of the Children’s Hospital Trust, in rural and regional hospitals. CHT’s CEO, Chantal Cooper, said: “Through the Burns Project, we aim to strengthen burn services for children across the Western Cape, ensuring earlier interventions, improved outcomes and reduced burdens on families residing far from Cape Town. We are excited that the new burn treatment rooms built at the Ceres District Hospital and Worcester Regional Hospital are nearing completion. Nurses and other health professionals from the two facilities are receiving wound care hands-on training at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. These efforts aim to decentralise specialised burn care, making it accessible to children closer to home.”

Help us to start safe, stay safe

The department calls on all people and organisations to help us protect our children from preventable burns this winter. Share the message. Learn the risks. Act early.