Burn Statistics

Here are a few burn statistics that we've collected. These are from the U.S and cover general facts, elderly burn statistics and children.

General Burn Statistics

• In the United States, approximately 2.4 million burn injuries are reported each year. Approximately 650,000 of the injuries are treated by medical professionals; 75,000 are hospitalized. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 have major burns involving at least 25% of their total body surface.
• Between 8,000 and 12,000 of patients with burns die, and approximately one million will sustain substantial or permanent disabilities resulting from their burn injury. (Journal of Burn Care & Rehabilitation, May/June 1992)

  (Note: These burn statistics are for the United States only and only take into account burn injuries that are reported. Many burns, for which people seek relief, go un-reported, such as sunburns, minor scalds, match burns, iron burns, curling iron burns, burns from coffee, etc.)

• Burn injuries are second to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States.
• 41,000 heat burns resulted in an average of four lost days of work each.
• 15,700 chemical burns resulted in an average of two lost days of work each.

Elderly Burn Statistics

• From ages 5 to 74, most burn injuries occur outdoors with the next most frequent area being the kitchen.
• From ages 75 and above, frequently the kitchen is the area burns injuries occur, with outdoor fire accidents being next.
• The National Burn Information Exchange indicates that after the age of 60, the risk of burn injury is greater than at any time since childhood and the average size of the burn is larger than for any other age group.
• The most common burn accidents for older adults are from flame or scalding, lighting trash fires or a furnace, bathing or falling asleep while smoking.

Child Burn Statistics

• Children, ages newborn to two-years-old, are most frequently admitted for emergency burn care in a hospital. The kitchen is most frequently the area in the home where burn injuries occur for children newborn to four. The next most frequent area is in the bathroom.
• Approximately 99,500 children ages 14 and under were treated at hospital emergency rooms for burn-related injuries last year - 62,580 were thermal burns, 23,620 were scald burns, 9,430 were chemical burns, and 2,250 were electrical burns.
• 80% of burn injuries occur in and around the home.
• Burns and fires are the leading cause of accidental death in the home for children 14 and under.
• Hot tap water scald burns cause more deaths and hospitalizations than any other hot liquid burns.
• Most scald burns to children, especially small children, are caused by hot foods or liquids spilled in the kitchen.
• The skin of a child is thinner so they burn faster and deeper than adults.
• Scalds are the leading cause of accidental death in the home for children from birth to age four and are 40% of the burn injuries for children up to age 14.
• Frequently the kitchen is the area in the home where burn injuries occur for children newborn to four.
• Boys, especially between the ages 10 and 14, are at the highest risk of fireworks-related injuries. Children ages 4 and under are at the highest risk for sparkler-related injuries.
• Nearly 75 percent of all child related burns are preventable.