Almost half of paediatric burn assessments at QVH involve children aged two and under

To mark Burns Awareness Day, some of our specialist burns nurses were at Haskins Snowhill Garden Centre today (14 October), helping to raise awareness of burn risks and sharing advice on preventing burns and responding effectively if one occurs.

New figures released by the hospital for Burns Awareness Day show that children aged two and under accounted for almost half (45%) of all burn assessments carried out by our Paediatric Assessment Unit during the first eight months of 2026.

Between January and August, the team conducted 613 new assessments of children with burn injuries. Half of all injuries were caused by scalds, while almost a third were contact burns. Hot drinks remained the leading cause of burns seen by the service, accounting for 132 injuries during the first eight months of the year. Injuries from everyday household items including ovens and hobs, hair straighteners, hot water bottles, BBQs, treadmills and heaters were also regularly treated.

Clinicians have also identified a growing trend in burns caused by instant noodle pots, with cases increasing year-on-year. These injuries are becoming more severe, affecting larger areas of the body and taking longer to heal.

Throughout the day, Haskins customers were able to speak to members of our burns team about common burn hazards in and around the home and learn the correct first aid response. Visitors were advised to cool a burn under cool running water for 20 minutes as soon as possible and to avoid using ice, butter, creams or toothpaste on burn injuries.

Baljit Dheansa, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Queen Victoria Hospital, said: “The fact that almost half of the children assessed by our Paediatric Assessment Unit for burn injuries are aged two and under highlights just how vulnerable young children are to burns in the home.

“Our data highlights that many injuries are caused by everyday items that people encounter routinely, from hot drinks and hot food to hair straighteners and treadmills. We are also seeing an increase in burns caused by instant noodle pots, which can result in more extensive injuries and longer healing times.

“That is why Burns Awareness Day is so important. By helping people understand the risks and the correct first aid response, we hope to reduce both the number and severity of burns affecting children.”

We would like to thank Haskins Snowhill Garden Centre for supporting Burns Awareness Day and helping raise awareness of burn prevention and first aid within the local community.

We are also grateful for Haskins’ ongoing support of Queen Victoria Hospital Charity, which it has chosen as its Charity of the Year. Through fundraising and awareness activities, the partnership will help support projects that enhance care and experiences for patients and their families across the hospital.