SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fire Marshal is educating the public about the risks of injury during National Burn Awareness Week. The theme this year is “Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire!” According to the CDC, over 270,000 people received medical care for unintentional burn injuries in 2020 with over 3,000 deaths. A scalding injury with hot liquids can happen at any age. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities are especially at risk. Hot liquids from bath water, hot coffee, and even microwaved soup can cause devastating injuries. Scald burns are the second leading cause of all burn injuries.
“Today, 96.8% of those who suffer burn injuries will survive. Unfortunately, many of those survivors will sustain serious scarring, life-long physical disabilities causing difficulties adjusting back to everyday life after their injury,” said Acting Illinois State Fire Marshal Dale Simpson.
