National Burns Awareness Month June 2025

NATIONAL BURNS AWARENESS MONTH - JUNE 2025

Burns prevention starts at home!

Kidsafe Australia, in partnership with the Australian & New Zealand Burn Association (ANZBA), is urging parents and carers to be extra vigilant in and around the home this winter to prevent burns, and ensure they are aware of the correct first aid steps for burns.

The call comes during National Burns Awareness Month, an Australian-wide campaign run by Kidsafe Australia.
“If a burn happens, then it’s critical that cool running water is applied to the burn area for 20 minutes. Administering correct first aid measures can make a significant difference in the rehabilitation and long-term outcome of the burn injury”, said Christine Erskine.

According to data from the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand (BRANZ), in 2023/24, 2,802 patients were admitted to burns units across Australia and New Zealand, with 23.1% of those cases classified as paediatric (0-15 years).

BRANZ identified that 56.8% of total burn injuries occurred in the home or usual place of residence, while 29.2% of paediatric cases occurred when playing near a person preparing food or drink.
Administering the correct first-aid treatment in the first three hours of a burn injury can significantly reduce the severity of minor burn injuries.
Fortunately, 59.5% of all patients received gold-standard first aid, which is 20 minutes of cool running water within three hours of the injury, highlighting the importance of community education on burn and scald first aid.

Christine Erskine, Kidsafe NSW CEO, stressed the importance of administering correct first aid immediately in the event of a burn or scald, which should include:-

Prevention and treatment of burns and scalds

Prevent – take action to prevent burn and scald injuries. Learn more at: https://kidsafe.com.au/national-burns-awareness-month/
Remove – remove yourself from danger. Remove any clothing, jewellery or nappies from the burn area unless stuck to the skin.
Cool – place the burn under cool running water for twenty minutes. Never place ice, oil or butter on the burn.
Cover – protect the burn with a clean dressing
Seek – seek medical attention if the burn or scald is on the face, hands, lap or feet, is bigger than a 20-cent piece or is blistered

For more information about National Burns Awareness Month and burns prevention and first aid resources, please visit:
Kidsafe Australia
ANZBA – the peak body for health professionals responsible for the care of burn injuries in Australia and New Zealand
Facebook@kidsafeaustralia

About National Burns Awareness Month

National Burns Awareness Month is an initiative run by Kidsafe Australia. It is held annually in June, as there is a significantly increased risk of burns and scalds during winter months. A series of national educational and awareness initiatives will be run throughout the month to raise awareness regarding the prevention and correct first-aid treatment of minor burns.

20 Minutes 2022

Preventing Burns Around the Home

During National Burns Awareness Month, Kidsafe Australia is encouraging parents and carers to download and use their Burns Safety Checklist (see below) to prevent burns around the home, and to ensure they are aware of the correct first aid steps to take in the event that someone sustains a burn:

Correct First Aid Steps

Remove - remove yourself from danger. Remove any clothing and jewellery from the burn area unless well stuck to the skin
Cool - place the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes. Never use items like ice, oil or butter as these can make the burn worse
Cover the burn with a clean dressing
Seek medical attention if the burn or scald is on the face, hands, feet, genitals or buttocks, is larger than a 20-cent coin or blistered

Home Burns Safety Checklist

Use this Home Burns Safety Checklist to check the safety of your home.
If you tick ‘NO’ to any of the questions, make a change so you can tick ‘YES’ and keep your family safe!

Click here to download the Home Burns Safety Checklist