Kp. Quinlan, INJURY CONTROL IN PRACTICE - HOME RADIATOR BURNS IN INNER-CITY CHILDREN, Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 150(9), 1996, pp. 954-957
Qbjective: To describe thermal burns from radiators in the homes of ch
ildren in the inner city and an intervention to decrease the risk for
this pediatric injury. Setting: Academic medical center in Chicago. Pa
tients: Case series of 10 radiator-related burns. Results: The burns d
escribed were found to be clustered in an area of a public housing pro
ject served by steam radiators. No burns were associated with hot wate
r radiators. Just 14% of housing units with young children had adequat
e radiator covers and radiator pipe insulation. Radiator covers and in
sulation have now been replaced or repaired in all units of the 11 hou
sing project buildings served by steam radiators. Conclusions: Steam r
adiators in the home represent a particular childhood burn hazard. Com
munity-based clinicians are in a unique position to recognize local pa
tterns of injury and work with other agencies in injury control effort
s.