Probability of a Burn Injury Requiring Medical Treatment

Approximately 486,000 burn injuries receive medical treatment in the United States each year, with about 40,000 requiring hospitalization and 3,400 resulting in death. Burns are the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide.

Thermal burns (from flames, hot liquids, and hot objects) account for about 86% of burn injuries. Scalding from hot liquids is the most common burn injury in children under 5. Contact burns from hot surfaces (stoves, irons, curling irons) are also common in young children. Other burn types include chemical burns (about 3%), electrical burns (about 4%), and radiation burns. Cooking is the leading cause of home fire-related burn injuries.

Burn severity is classified by depth (first through fourth degree) and total body surface area (TBSA) affected. Burns covering more than 20% TBSA or involving the face, hands, feet, genitalia, or major joints typically require treatment at a specialized burn center. The US has about 130 burn centers. Survival rates have improved dramatically: patients with 50% TBSA burns now have about a 90% survival rate, compared to near-universal mortality decades ago. Immediate first aid for minor burns involves cool (not cold) running water for 10-20 minutes.