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As winter sets in across Tasmania, cooler temperatures can present an increased risk for members of the public to sustain burns as they try to stay warm. The Department of Health is urging Tasmanians to learn about burn risks and the critical importance of effective first aid.
With June marking the start of National Burns Awareness Month, the Department of Health and the Royal Hobart Hospital’s Burns Unit are joining efforts with Kidsafe Tasmania and the Tasmania Fire Service to spread vital safety messages and first aid techniques.
Rebecca Schrale, Nurse Practitioner at the Tasmanian Burns Unit (pictured - left) said the Department of Health had developed extensive resources to help educate the community about prevention and responding to burn injuries. This includes posters available in multiple languages to ensure accessibility for all Tasmanians.
"During June, it’s vital to promote the key messages around preventing burn injuries from occurring, the importance of first aid, and the educational resources available to help prevent and respond to burns effectively.”
This year, the Burns Awareness Month campaign is placing a particular emphasis on exhaust burns from motorbikes and injuries from fire pits, which have seen a significant rise in incidents over the past three years.
“Exhaust burn injuries occur predominately among teenagers and young adults and first aid is usually very limited, with a high proportion requiring surgery and long-term scar management. If children do ride motorbikes, we recommend that they are closely supervised by an adult at all times and wear appropriate protective clothing including a helmet, long pants, and covered shoes’’ Rebecca said.
“Hot water bottle burn injuries and wood heater burns continue to occur during the winter months, and that’s why it’s important for Tasmanians to familiarise themselves with the safety advice when using these items.
“If burns unfortunately do occur, there are measures people can take to effectively treat them. In Tasmania, more than 1 in 3 (36 per cent) of children and more than half (55 per cent) of adults who sustained a burn injury in 2023 did not receive adequate first aid, which can negatively affect recovery outcomes.
“Cool running water for at least 20 minutes will not only reduce the size and depth of a burn but also reduce the need for admission to hospital, surgery and improves long-term scar outcomes.”
The Tasmanian Burns Unit is this year supporting burns survivors by running a burns pressure garment design competition – acknowledging the fact that scar management and the need for pressure garments may be required and are an important part of the recovery process. The innovative competition has already created significant interest and discussion among burns survivors and health professionals, fostering a supportive community response which they hope will expend nationally and to New Zealand next year. The initiative aims to increase awareness and support of burns survivors and improve scar acceptance in the community.
The Department encourages all Tasmanians to participate in Burns Awareness Month by learning about burn risks and first aid. For more information on burns prevention and to access the educational resources, please visit: