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Burn awareness drive for kids, parents launched

Nine out of 10 patients or parents of children being treated for burns at Mafraq Hospital do not know how to give adequate initial first aid to a burn injury. In 2012, the hospital has recorded 147 admissions in its Burns Unit.

Of these, more than one in three (36 per cent) were children while one in four (25 per cent) were below the age of three.

In an endeavour to educate parents, childcare providers and children on burn protection and first aid at home, Mafraq Hospital has launched the ‘Hemaya’ burn awareness campaign. The month-long community initiative, which will run till June 12, aims to reduce the incidence of and minimise the damage caused by burns and scalds among children.

During the campaign, booths will be set up at the hospital’s Paediatric Clinic, Outgoing Patients’ Department (OPD) corridor and majlis. The hospital will also conduct educational lessons for students of more than five local primary schools.

“As part of our earlier burns awareness campaigns, we reached out to adults to educate them on preventive measures and first aid methods to protect children. With Hemaya, we aim to create awareness amongst children too on how to avoid burns at home or at school,” said Bunna Eng-Tusitala, Burns Unit manager at the hospital.

Fatima Yousef Al Hammadi, Principal of Safana Bint Hatem School, said: “Although scald burns can happen to anyone, young children are the most likely to incur such injuries. Therefore, we recognise the importance of having our students identify key fire-safety behaviour at a young age.”

“The key to reducing childhood burn injuries is prevention and therefore it is important for parents to safeguard their homes,” advised Eng-Tusitala.

In the event of a burn injury, a three-step advice for parents is to stop the burning process by removing the source of heat, cool the burned area by holding it under cold running water for 20 minutes, and to stay calm and immediately call for medical attention, if necessary.