Burns prevention in the home: expert advice on responding to accidents

Every year in the UK, an estimated 250,000 people will sustain a burn injury. Of these, 175,000 will attend A&E, and 16,000 will go onto be admitted to hospital for specialist burns care. Perhaps most surprisingly, almost half of those with the most serious injuries are children, with elderly people, those with mental health difficulties, mobility difficulties or sensory impairments also at increased risk.

To mark National Burn Awareness Day 2023, Leigh Day hosted a public webinar to raise awareness of the risks of burns in the home, what we can all do to help safeguard those at greatest risk.

The theme for 2023 was the cost-of-living crisis: with heating costs rising and more people being forced into fuel poverty, we focused on accidents caused by appliances, faulty electronics, and unsafe devices in the home.

This webinar was produced jointly by the burns injury team at Leigh Day and the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England. Leigh Day was the official Children’s Burns Trust’s communications partner for National Burn Awareness Day 2023.

With a panel of academic, clinical, and legal experts, we explored the causes of burns in the home, treatments available to patients, and the impact that burns can have on survivors.

This webinar was produced jointly by the burns injury team at Leigh Day and the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England.

Who should view?

• Parents and carers of children and vulnerable adults
• Teachers
• Youth leaders
• Professionals involved with the care, healthcare and education of children and vulnerable adults