​Children are more at risk of sustaining burns injuries during the winter period. This is according to the recorded paediatric admissions across health facilities in Gauteng which show an alarming number of children admitted for burns between the months of May and July 2024.
In the period under review, the Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital recorded the highest with 556 paediatric burns admissions followed by Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital with 431 and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital with 138. Among the primary health facilities, Alexandra Community Health Centre leads with 99 children under 12 years of age seen for burns while Ebony Park Clinic follows with 72. 
The majority of these children sustained burns injuries as a result of hot water and open flames from prima stove heaters and 'mbualas', as well as electrical appliances including heaters while at home. The injuries include severe burns to the hands, face, chest, buttocks and feet. 
Not being mindful of a child's surrounding or placing hot and flammable objects around a child can lead in severe burns injuries. In most cases when parents narrate to healthcare workers how their children got burned, it mostly happens in a split second. At one moment the toddler was on their site, and suddenly they hear a loud cry.  
Most children who sustain burns from hot water are as a result of bathwater where parents did not test how hot the water is before getting the child into the bathtub. Some children tip over boiling hot water in pots where stoves are put on surfaces where children can reach. 
Professor Adelin Muganza, the Head of Burns Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital said that the majority of paediatric burns cases are due to scalding from hot water, kettles and pots. 
"It is important that parents properly mix bath water for children and ensure that cooking pots and hot water cattle with cables are not placed in areas where children can reach. Children must always be supervised to ensure that they are protected from burns," said Prof Muganza.  
Parents whose children sustain scald burn should apply cool running water over the area, the use of ice packs is discouraged as it may decrease blood flow to the area. For any emergencies, they can contact the Gauteng Emergency Medical Services on 112 or go to their nearest healthcare facility for treatment.