Journal article
Trash and brush burning: An underappreciated mechanism of thermal injury in a rural community
Journal of burn care & rehabilitation, Vol.24(2), pp.85-89
2003
DOI: 10.1097/01.BCR.0000054174.74803.7F
PMID: 12626926
Abstract
Open-fire injuries associated with burning trash or brush result in a significant number of burn admissions annually. Trash- and brush-burning injuries are more prevalent in rural environments where open burning is an acceptable practice of waste disposal. These injuries are not “unavoidable accidents” but follow a predictable injury pattern. Understanding this injury pattern is paramount to effective prevention. The purpose of this work is to describe the epidemiology of burn injuries associated with burning trash or brush. Charts were retrospectively reviewed for all trash and brush burning injuries from July 1989 to December 2000. One hundred ninety-four injuries were identified, accounting for one fifth of all flame admissions for the study period. Persons most at risk for these burn injuries were males between the ages of 25 to 45, followed by males ages 16 to 24. Accelerant use was identified in over 80% of these injuries. The median cost for admission was $9,363.00 US dollars. Cost was significantly related to age, percent body surface area burned, and operative intervention. Brush and trash burning can lead to costly injuries especially when accelerants are used. Additional research is needed to explore the cultural and social influences associated with these injuries to target effective prevention.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Trash and brush burning: An underappreciated mechanism of thermal injury in a rural community
- Creators
- L. A WIBBENMEYER - Department of Surgery, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United StatesM. A AMELON - Department of Surgery, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United StatesR. M LORET DE MOLA - Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, United StatesR. II LEWIS - Department of Surgery, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United StatesG. P KEALEY - Department of Surgery, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of burn care & rehabilitation, Vol.24(2), pp.85-89
- DOI
- 10.1097/01.BCR.0000054174.74803.7F
- PMID
- 12626926
- NLM abbreviation
- J Burn Care Rehabil
- ISSN
- 0273-8481
- eISSN
- 1534-5939
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Hagerstown, MD
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2003
- Academic Unit
- Surgery; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984051895802771
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