THE NECESSITY OF PREVENTING INFANT HAND STEAM BURN INJURY DUE TO ELECTRIC RICE COOKER

Abstract

Burn injuries often cause significant cosmetic deformity and functional impairment and the cost of treatment is staggering Although the treatment of burns is steadily improving, the best treatment remains prevention. The number of infant hand steam burn injury due to electric rice cooker has increased markedly, probably as a result of the increasing use of it. Numerous authors have described the importance of intensified efforts toward education for the prevention of these hand steam burn injury. They also claim the economic status of the parents, but economic status does not have relationship with hand steam burn from rice cooker. An analysis of 16 cases of infant hand steam burn deformity due to electric rice cooker during October 1995 and December 1996 at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of Ajou University Medical Center has been conducted: i. a age of steam burn, duration of hospital stay, medical and surgical cost, economical status of parents, parent´s cognition about infant hand steam burn injury and sequalae. The mean age of infant hand steam burn injury is 12 79 months old and the parent´s economical status is relatively low compared to expensive medical and surgical cost. The knowledge of parents and makers about infant hand steam burn injury and sequalae is very low. So, we concluded that continued public education and new design of electric rice cooker with transforming hot steam into different direction such a way of not attracting infant are the two most important factors in preventing infant hand steam burn injury due to electric rice cooker. Also the rice cooker maker should be responsible not only for the extensive education to user but also for the economic lass of our national health insurance system. They should be aware that serious problem is caused by their product.