This document discusses burns prevention in India. It notes that India records 70 lakh burn injury cases annually, with 1.4 lakh deaths per year mostly among women and children aged 15-35. 80% of cases are due to kitchen accidents. Treatment is very expensive, impacting low-income families. Primary prevention through education is key to reducing burns and associated costs. Factors that increase burn risk include unsafe stoves, wiring, and living in overcrowded or low-income areas. A national burns prevention program is needed along with increased funding, data collection, and awareness campaigns targeting schools, communities, and workplaces to teach prevention methods.

1. Dr. Sunil Keswani
National Burns Centre
Airoli, Navi mumbai

2. Burns are a global, but solvable
Health crisis
 Primary prevention involves prevention of a condition
before its onset.
 Primary prevention helps avoid suffering, cost and
burden associated with the disease.
 It is typically the best and most cost effective type of
health care.

3. Magnitude of Problem
 India records 70 lakh burn injury cases annually
 Of which 1.4 lakh people die every year.
 Around 70% of all burn injuries occur in the most
productive age group (15-35 yrs).
 Around four out of five burnt cases are women and
children.
 As many as 80% of cases admitted are a result of
accidents at kitchen-related accidents.
 Source: Union Ministry of Health (Govt. of India)
 Reported by Times of India

4. Burns treatment is very expensive
and a life changing trauma.
 Majority of burns patients are from lower socio
economic strata of society, hence it makes the
treatment even more difficult.
 The post burn life of burns survivor is never the samesocially, economically, mentally and physically.
SO in such case BURNS PREVENTION IS THE ONLY
WAY OUT TO REDUCE THE BURNS INCIDENCE IN
INDIA

5. The Risk factors
Factors
Pre-Event
Event
Post –
Event
Human Agent
Factors or
Vehicle
Physical
Socio-cultural
Environment Environment

6. Agent“Chulha”
“Kerosine stove”

7. Physical environment - Slums

8. Physical environment-Overcrowded
Places

9. Physical environmentOvercrowded Places

10. Physical environmentUnsafe electrical wiring

11. Socioeconomic environmentPoverty

12. Problems in India
 National Preventive programme for Burns !!!
 Data !!!
 Lack of funding.

13. The Haddon Matrix
Factors
Human
Factors
Agent or
Vehicle
Pre-Event
EDUCATI
ON
Physical
Environme
nt
Socio-cultural
Environment
FLOOR
COOKING
Event
Post –Event
EDUCATION, ENGINEERING, ENFORCEMENT(LEGISLATION)

14. BURNS PREVENTION PROGRAM
Knowledge
Team
Building
Reaching out
to community
• Based on years of experience
• Based on research data
• Efficient and dedicated people
• Doctors, medical social workers , Program
Coordinators
• Awareness programs, Distribution of
awareness materials
• Feed back to improve the program.

15. Schools
Local
Community
Public
places
BURNS
PREVENTION AT
DIFFERENT LEVELS
Colleges
NGOs

16. BURNS PREVENTION PROGRAM
School Level
College level
School Level
Community level
NGO level
Medical Students level

17. Burns Prevention program at Industry level
LECTURE WAS ORGANIZED FOR THE ENGINEERS, MEDICAL OFFICERS & WORKERS OF
HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORP. LTD

18. Areas of Burns Prevention:










Kitchen Burn Safety
Bathroom Burn Safety
Electrical Burn Safety
Chemical Burn safety
Firecracker burn safety
Vehicular Burn safety
Lightening burn safety
Infant Burn safety
Dos’ and Don'ts’ In case of Fire
Dos’ and Don'ts’ In case of Burn

19. 80% burns accidents in women and Children happen in Kitchen

20. Control temperature of hot water
No table cloths below hot liquids
Temperature check of microwave heated fluids/food
Wear Slippers, Respect Electricity

21. Don’t light crackers in Hand
Never open a hot radiator cap
Don’t rub eyes after chemical injury
Stay away from trees and water during lightening

22. In case of Burns, Don’t run; Lie and roll
Remove constricting materials after burns
Don’t use lift in case of fire
Pour water over burns

23. Challenge..
• No National Burns Prevention Program
Funding
• Lack of Dedicated Human Resource for Awareness
Manpower
• Many problems in Reaching out to Community
Communication

24. Solution:
 Each School to teach its students about burns
Prevention.
 Incorporation of Burns Prevention program into
school curriculum.
 Individual NGO to target the locality.
 Use of Social Network site life Facebook, Twitter.

25. Thank you