As holidaymakers embark on their festive adventures, it’s worth noting that 2023 has clinched the title for the hottest year on record, bringing about scorching heatwaves in various parts of Mzansi. Apart from high temperatures, South Africans also have to cook or brave the heat from a braai. However, that usually comes with risks.
This serves as a crucial reminder for everyone to take measures and to prevent skin and fire burns during this joyous season. To help, a paediatric surgeon from the Universitas Academic Hospital and the University of the Free State (UFS), shares tips on how you can keep safe this summer.
According to Dr Hilge du Preez, a lecturer and medial specialist in the department of surgery at the UFS, they usually see a spike in thermal burn injuries during the festive period.
“Thermal burns are caused by contact of the skin with a hot substance or fluid, such as flames or boiling water.
“Children and adults get injured due to burns in different ways. Children often burn due to spilling hot liquid or food on themselves. We also see cases where children fall into a tub of hot water that is being prepared for a bath,” Du Preez says.
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Tips on preventing burn injuries
In an article published on Health For Mzansi, she shares her tips for preventing burns during the festive season.
When it comes to cooking, Du Preez explains why it is safer to have the pot and pan handles pointing inwards and not outwards where children can reach it. She also shares handy advice on running a bath for a child and why adults usually suffer severe burns.
Du Preez says they urge communities to take care around open fires, adding that alcohol abuse and flames do not mix.
“We often see people who have fallen or who become irresponsible with fire due to being intoxicated. Do not stand with your back towards the fire and don’t leave children unsupervised around fires.”
The story also features some additional tips to assist in preventing fires that include ensuring all stoves are on a stable surface and a bucket of water is kept handy to extinguish small fires when they start.
For more tips on preventing burn injuries this festive, click here. This article was first published on Health For Mzansi.
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