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Burns and scalds

How common are minor burns and scalds?

We don't know exactly how many people get minor burns or scalds each year in the United States. That's because not everyone with a burn goes to a hospital or sees a doctor.

Only 1 in 20 burns are serious enough to need treatment in a hospital.

Source:
Brigham PA, McLoughlin E.
Burn incidence and medical care use in the United States: estimates, trends and data sources.
Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation. 1996; 17: 95-107.

Worldwide, about 2 million people are burned or scalded each year.

Source:
Brigham PA, McLoughlin E.
Burn incidence and medical care use in the United States: estimates, trends and data sources.
Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation. 1996; 17: 95-107.

¹ Children and older people are more likely to burn or scald themselves than younger adults.

Sources for the information on this page:

Brigham PA, McLoughlin E.Burn incidence and medical care use in the United States: estimates, trends and data sources.Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation. 1996; 17: 95-107.

This information was last updated on Nov 06, 2008

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