Background and Goals Scald Burns in Children Under Five Years Old: Risk Perceptions Among Caregivers Sawsan Salman, M.D., Kyran Quinlan, MD, MPH, Marla Quinney, OTR/L, Anne O’Conner, RN, BSN, Joseph Strickland, MSW University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois Our Endpoint…Healthy Children Results Conclusions Scald burns are the leading cause of burn injury in children under five years of age. Many devastating emotional and cosmetic effects of scald burn injuries Goal of this study was to gauge caregiver perceptions of risks and prevention strategies of unintentional scald burns in children under the age of five in 2 surrounding low-income communities. Methods DOMAIN 3: CURRENT CHILD SCALD PREVENTION INVOLVED (1) MAKING HOME ENVIRONMENT SAFER (2) EDUCATING THE CHILD, (3) CONSTANT CHILD SUPERVISION Theme 5: Making environment safer- Specifically turning pot handles inward & adjusting hot water temperature “Be careful. You know if you are cooking some grits or fried chicken, you have to turn the skillet handle inside” “I’ve adjusted the hot water tank so that the water doesn’t get too hot and doesn’t scald.” Theme 6: Educating the child “Always talk to your child as much as possible and if they want something, liquids or something hot to always come and get you first. Always come and get you, because they’re just a child and you are the adult and can get it.” “It’s how you raise them and how you talk to them not to do this and not to do that” Theme 7: Supervising the child at all times “All children are curious. You got to constantly be on them all the time.” “Just watch. You can only do so much. Just watch.” “I have to have eyes in the back of my head. I have to nod at my daughter and say well, you can’t touch anything. It’s all going to harm you.” TABLE 1: Most reliable sources of child safety information were own parents, medical professionals, and media.  Own parents/grandparents/other parents  U of C doctors/healthcare professional  classes at schools or hospital  News/PBS TV  Parenting classes  Pamphlets in hospitals/childcare facilities In school education both child and parents  Common sense  Internet  City buses (CTA) and trains ads; Library; Childcare facilities; Church; DCFS, Fire Marshall; Insurance companies; Health department notices TABLE 2: Caregivers input on best ways to distribute safety info.  Mailers, flyers, posters, brochures  Community meetings  Educational TV shows & videos  School group discussions  Create parenting programs  Safety demonstrations in Church  Safety Seminars at UCH  Street team in neighborhood  Billboards  Have school send home info  Fireman to school  Public bus/train/subway ads  Call 311 for recorded phone tips  Include actual stories  Professional to do home safety checks Four 90-minute audio-taped focus groups of 8-13 caregivers each were conducted. (2 in Washington Park and 2 in Woodlawn communities) Transcripts of discussions with 37 caregivers were analyzed for themes. DOMAIN 1: PERCEPTIONS OF SCALD RISK AND CONTROL OF CHILDREN BY CAREGIVERS IN THE HOME Theme 1: Caregivers expressed general feelings of control in protecting their children from scald injury when in their care. “I have complete control as far as one of my kids getting burned. I‘m not saying stuff don’t happen, but I think I am in complete control about one of them having an accident getting burned.” “I can honestly say that I have control while they are in my possession.” Theme 2: Despite general feelings of control, caregivers acknowledged that scald risks still exist and that some risk is perhaps out of their control. “ Even though we try our best to keep our kids safe, there is no guarantee that he won’t get into something. Sometimes it is out of your control.” “No way you can watch your kid all the time. I mean you want to have full control, but it’s impossible.” DOMAIN 2: CAREGIVERS HAVE REALISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL SCALD EVENTS Theme 3: Multiple caregivers had experience with a child being scalded under their care in the home. “She was cooking some noodle soup over the stove and she gave him a bowl and he went to the couch. He fell on the couch, and he had the bowl next to him on the couch and when he sat the hot liquid fell onto his leg.” “My grandchild was about 4 he took the hot coffee off the stove poured it on his chest and he got burned.” Theme 4: Caregivers could easily identify home situations with significant scald risk. “I was cooking on the stove and the handle was turned outward, but (my wife) said you have to push it in, turn it around so they can’t reach it. I turned it around. That’s a potential accident that could happen.” “You know you run your bath water…and it can get hot, too hot for a child.” “I always thought the stove was something to be very cautious of. I explain very clearly to my children about the stove, not thinking about the microwave being a danger.” Despite feelings of control caregivers believe they have over children, children have a high risk of being scalded in the home. Caregivers are aware scald injury risks and prevention strategies of turning in pot handles and adjusting the hot water heater temperature but little knowledge of safety devices was demonstrated. Future community-based scald prevention efforts will need to address caregiver perceptions of scald injury as well as focus on other less well-known preventative strategies.