Burn Awareness Week 2025, running from February 2 to 8, focuses on “Burn Prevention Where You Live, Work, and Play – Preventing Burns in the Home.” This year, the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund is proud to partner with the Fort St. John Fire Fighters, Local 2143, to create impactful prevention and awareness materials centered on preventing burns in the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom.
Burns can happen in an instant, but their consequences last a lifetime. The staggering reality is that scalds are the leading cause of burn injuries in children. At BC Children’s Hospital, approximately 150 new burn patients are treated annually, with 70% of these burns caused by scalding from hot liquids, steam, or bathwater. Shockingly, 78% of burn injuries in children occur in those under the age of five.
“Toddlers are naturally curious and eager to explore, but they lack an understanding of potential dangers,” said Jeff Sauvé, Executive Director of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. “That’s why it’s crucial to educate families about simple but effective burn prevention measures in the home.”
Key safety tips this Burn Awareness Week include:
Kitchen: Use stable, heat-resistant dishes, keep hot liquids spill-proof, and always use timers when cooking.
Bathroom: Set water heaters below 120°F, check bathwater temperature with a thermometer, and always supervise children in the bath.
Bedroom: Extinguish candles before sleeping, keep heat sources at least three feet away from flammable materials, and avoid using heating pads without automatic shut-off features.
Burn injuries have profound physical and psychological impacts, especially for young children. The Burn Fund, in collaboration with fire fighters and prevention partners across the province, is dedicated to reducing these injuries through education and community outreach.
To learn more about Burn Awareness Week and access free educational resources, visit www.burnfund.org. Our free Too Hot for Tots e-learning course is available to anyone who would like to learn more about scald prevention. Especially relevant to those with toddlers in their lives, this course offers an informative and interactive learning experience in just 30 minutes. Learn from experts and hear personal stories from burn survivors and their families.
