Sussex hospital warns of rising burns as nearly half of child cases involve under-threes

A Sussex hospital is warning parents about the dangers of everyday household items after revealing that almost half of children assessed for burn injuries are aged two or under.

New figures from Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead show that 45% of children assessed for burns during the first eight months of 2026 were aged two or younger.

The hospital's Paediatric Assessment Unit carried out 613 new assessments of children with burn injuries between January and August.

Half of all injuries were caused by scalds, while almost a third involved contact burns from hot surfaces or objects.

Hot drinks were the single biggest cause, responsible for 132 injuries during the eight-month period.

However, clinicians are also raising concerns about an increasing number of children suffering burns.

According to the hospital, these injuries are becoming more severe, often affecting larger areas of the body and taking longer to heal.

Other common causes of burns include everyday household items such as ovens, hobs, hair straighteners, hot water bottles, barbecues, treadmills and heaters.

To mark Burns Awareness Day on Wednesday 14 October, specialist burns nurses from Queen Victoria Hospital visited Haskins Snowhill Garden Centre to share potentially life-saving advice with families.

Shoppers were able to speak directly to the burns team about hazards around the home, how to prevent accidents and what to do if someone suffers a burn.

The hospital says the figures highlight just how vulnerable very young children are, particularly around hot food, drinks and household appliances.

Baljit Dheansa, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Queen Victoria Hospital, said:

"The fact that almost half of the children assessed by our Paediatric Assessment Unit for burn injuries are aged two and under highlights just how vulnerable young children are to burns in the home.

"Our data highlights that many injuries are caused by everyday items that people encounter routinely, from hot drinks and hot food to hair straighteners and treadmills. We are also seeing an increase in burns caused by instant noodle pots, which can result in more extensive injuries and longer healing times.

"That is why Burns Awareness Day is so important. By helping people understand the risks and the correct first aid response, we hope to reduce both the number and severity of burns affecting children."

Specialist nurses are reminding parents and carers that taking the right action immediately after a burn can make a significant difference.

The hospital's advice is to cool the affected area under cool running water for 20 minutes as soon as possible.

People are also being warned not to apply ice, butter, creams or toothpaste to burns, as these can cause further problems.

Clothing or jewellery near the burn should be removed if it is not stuck to the skin, and the injury should be covered with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy dressing after cooling.

Burns in babies and young children should be assessed by a healthcare professional. Serious burns require urgent medical attention.

The Burns Awareness Day event was supported by Haskins Snowhill Garden Centre, which has also selected Queen Victoria Hospital Charity as its Charity of the Year.

The partnership will help raise funds for projects aimed at improving care and experiences for patients and their families.

The hospital thanked the garden centre for supporting the awareness event and helping spread important burns prevention messages throughout the local community.

With hundreds of children requiring assessments for burns this year alone, specialists hope greater awareness of household dangers will help prevent further injuries.

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