Kids'injury rate a burning issue

By FRANCESCA MOLD

Trent Elion Te Rangianewapukohukohu Murphy has had a torturous three weeks.

The 16-month-old suffered severe burns to his upper body after his fondness for tea got the better of him and he pulled a mug off a table, drenching himself with scalding soup.

Since the accident, which happened at his Bay of Islands home, Trent has suffered the painful daily ritual of having dead skin removed from the burns on his neck.

The wound is being prepared for a skin graft operation due to take place at the KidzFirst children's hospital in South Auckland tomorrow.

According to Trent's surgeon, Stephen Mills, the number of children suffering from burns is steadily increasing and is especially high around school holiday time.

There have been more than 100 cases this year, twice the number there would have been a few decades ago. More than half of them are Pacific Islanders or Maori.

Dr Mills said there appeared to be a general lack of awareness about the danger to children of household items.

"People seem to have forgotten how unpredictable kids are. It is important they remember kitchens are not places for children to play. It is also an issue of supervision."

Dr Mills said the most common kinds of burns were from hot water, tea, coffee, pots on the stove or baths which were run too hot.

If a child was burned, his or her clothing should be removed immediately and the injury should be put under cold, running water for at least 10 minutes - ideally 20 minutes.

Dr Mills said treating the child immediately would make scarring or the need for skin grafts less likely.