Considerations for Thermal Injury: The Elderly as a Sensitive Population

Abstract

As the ``baby boom population'' in North America ages, one of the populations at greatest risk of thermal injury continues to expand. According to the US Census Bureau in 2000, the population of US citizens who are 75 years and older was 16,548,000 (6.0 %). In 2010 this figure was projected to be 19,101,000 (6.4 %), and by 2050 it is expected to exceed 54, 094,000 (13.4 %) (Lionelli et al., Burns 31:958--963, 2005). In the United States and Canada, 1.25 million people suffer burn injuries annually (Burn Foundation. Burn incidence and treatment in the United States 1999 Fact Sheet. Philadelphia). Populations identified at increased risk of burns include infants and young children, older adults, and people with any type of disability (Redlick et al., Burn Care Rehabil 23:351--356, 2002; Baptiste and Feck, Am J Public Health 70:727--729, 1980; Petro et al., Geriatrics 44(3):25--48, 1989; Stassen et al., Am Surg. 2001;67:704--708). Many of the burns reported are from scalds. Scald injuries are painful, require prolonged treatment, and may result in lifelong scarring and even death. Most burn injuries happen in the home with tap water scalds occurring in the bathroom or kitchen (Redlick et al., Burn Care Rehabil 23:351--356, 2002; American Burn Association (2000) Scalds: a burning issue. A campaign kit for burn awareness week; Bull and Lawrence, Fire Mater 3(2):100--105, 1979). Burns can also be caused by therapies in medical treatment facilities (Barillo et al., J Burn Care Rehabil 21:269--273, 2000) or from therapeutic use of heat in the home. This premise is supported by a jointly issued public health advisory in 1995 by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Products Safety Commission on electric heating pads. This advisory reported approximately 1,600 heating pad burns treated in the emergency room annually and that approximately 45 % of those patients were over 65 years of age{\thinspace}(Burlington DB, Brown A (1995) FDA/CPSC public health advisory: hazards associated with the use of electric heating pads. pp 1--3.