Injury control in practice. Home radiator burns in inner-city children.
OBJECTIVE
To describe thermal burns from radiators in the homes of children in the inner city and an intervention to decrease the risk for this pediatric injury.


METHODS
Academic medical center in Chicago.


METHODS
Case series of 10 radiator-related burns.


RESULTS
The burns described were found to be clustered in an area of a public housing project served by steam radiators. No burns were associated with hot water radiators. Just 14% of housing units with young children had adequate radiator covers and radiator pipe insulation. Radiator covers and insulation have now been replaced or repaired in all units of the 11 housing project buildings served by steam radiators.


CONCLUSIONS
Steam radiators in the home represent a particular childhood burn hazard. Community-based clinicians are in a unique position to recognize local patterns of injury and work with other agencies in injury control efforts.
Quinlan
K P
KP
Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, III, USA.
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006361:Heating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011638:Public Housing; D014504:Urban Health