The statistics collected from various non-profit organizations reflect that while great strides have been made in burn injury prevention and treatment, such injuries are still prevalent and extremely dangerous.
- 450,000 Americans receive medical treatment for burn injuries each year via hospital or emergency room admissions. This does not include clinic or private medical office visits.
- 3,400 Americans die annually from fire, burns, or smoke inhalation. These numbers are combined because, in some cases, it can be difficult to pinpoint a cause of death.
- Of these deaths, 2,550 are from residential fires, 300 are from automobile crashes, 150 are from non-residential fires, and 400 come from contact with electricity, scalding liquids, or hot objects.
- 40,000 Americans are hospitalized each year for burn injuries. Around 30,000 are hospitalized at one of the nation’s 127 burn centers.
- The survival rate for those admitted to Burn Centers exceeds 96%.
- Nearly 70% of patients at burn centers are male.
- In 2004, nearly all (96%) U.S. homes had at least one smoke alarm. Only 75% had at least one that worked.
- Of those admitted to burn centers, the cause of their burns breaks down as follows:
- 43% fire or flame
- 34% scald
- 9% contact with hot object
- 4% electrical
- 3% chemical
- 7% other
Sources: http://www.ameriburn.org/resources_factsheet.php; http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=fire-safety-and-burns–injury-statistics-and-incidence-rates-90-P02978