INJURY CONTROL IN PRACTICE - HOME RADIATOR BURNS IN INNER-CITY CHILDREN

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.