Scald burns from hot tap water

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Abstract
Hot tap water is a common source of household burn injury. The charts of all patients hospitalized for tap water scalds in Dane County, Wisconsin, USA, during a 10-yr period were reviewed. Of 33 patients, 29 (88%) had readily identifiable risk factors: 17 (52%) were children younger than 5 yr; 3 (9%) were older than 65 yr; 10 (30%) were physically or mentally disabled. One additional person was burned in a nonhome environment. Of the 5 deaths, 3 occurred in children younger than 30 mo., and 2 occurred in patients older than 70 yr. Almost all of these injuries could have been prevented by lowering the temperature of the household water heater to below 54.4.degree. C (130.degree. F) and preferably between 48.9 and 51.7.degree. C (120-125.degree. F). Physicians can play an important role in the prevention of this type of injury.