Imagine molten metal pouring into your hands and causing third degree burns.
Severe burn victims know the feeling all too well and Burns Awareness Week from June 23 to 27 is a time to teach Territorians about burns prevention and treatment.
Burns are extremely painful wounds and can leave permanent scarring, but steps can be taken to avoid burns through general safety awareness.
Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) has seen a 50% increase in burn injuries since 2005 with 167 patients being treated last year alone.
The message for Burns Awareness Week 2008 is 'Hot water burns like fire'.
RDH Burns Nurse Alison Mustapha says young children, in particular, are at a risk of burns from water.
"Parents should keep a close eye on their children. Hot oil and water are major causes of a lot of burns.
"A severe burn can happen in seconds and do enough damage to need skin grafts," says Ms Mustapha.
And men are twenty times more likely than females to be admitted to hospital with flame burns - usually as a result of using flammable liquids to burn off rubbish and palm fronds, light the barbecue or campfires.
"Another very common burn is from sparklers which burn at 1000 degrees Celsius. Some adults hold several in their hand and light them together. The result is a flow of molten magnesium into their hands causing serious wounds," says Ms Mustapha.
The warning is even more timely with Territory Day approaching.
Nurse Alison Mustapha says correct first aid will reduce the severity of a burn injury.
- REMOVE the victim from the heat source and remove clothing to help the heat escape. LEAVE any clothing that is stuck to the skin.
- COOL the burn area immediately with running water for 20 minutes. NEVER use ice, oil, butter or ointment on a burn.
- COVER the burn with clean plastic food wrap.
- SEEK medical attention at the hospital's emergency department. If necessary call 000 for an ambulance.
Volunteers and members of the NT Fire Service will be manning information stalls at Casuarina Square on Tuesday, Palmerston Shopping Centre on Wednesday and Thursday and Coolalinga Shopping Centre on Friday.
Another stall will be set up at Gove Shopping Centre from Monday June 23 to Friday June 27.
Media Contact: Cameron Jackson, DHCS Media Liaison Officer 0401 116 144
Media Note: Burns Awareness Week launch will be held today (June 23) at Royal Darwin Hospital 12:30pm. Several burns patients will be available to talk to media.
Release date: 23 June 2008
