Hot oil burns-A study of predisposing factors, clinical course and prevention strategies

A 10-year retrospective study of hot oil scalds was conducted at the Yorkshire Regional Burns Centre from the years 1995-2004. The number of admissions was noted to have increased over this period. Peak occurrence was noted in the 1-5 and the 30-40-year-old age groups. The peak occurrence in adults was significantly older than that previously reported. Ninety-two percent of injuries in the 1-6-year-old age group were due to pulling a handle or cord of a container of hot oil. Older children had similar mechanisms of injury as adults. Injuries due to epilepsy, intoxication or assaults, were seen exclusively in the fourth to seventh decades of life. The total body surface area of adults and children were similar, i.e. 7.15 ± 5.49% versus 7.23 ± 6.87%. However, the incidence of full thickness injury in adults was over twice that observed in children, i.e. 67% versus 26%. Prevention of hot oil scalds requires adult supervision of young children. Product modification for fryers is helpful, but is not a substitute for adult supervision. Prevention of injury in adults requires the placement of adequate warning labels on hot oil cooking appliances as well as containers of cooking oil. In addition, adults should refrain from the consumption of alcoholic beverages when using hot oil cooking appliances or deep-frying.