Hair Straighteners Linked to High Risk of Head Burns Among Kids

A new study published in the journal Archives of Diseases in Childhood reveals that one in five cases of head burns among children is caused by hair straighteners. Researchers led by Professor Alison Kemp from Cardiff University observed more than 1,200 children under 16 years of age who were taken to hospitals with burn injuries between 2008 and 2010.

The researchers found that around 4.7 percent or 57 of the burns were caused when the children used hair straighteners. The researchers suggested that when their findings are applied nationwide, hair straighteners would account for over 1,100 cases of burns among children every year.

“While these appliances must be kept out of the reach of children, there is the potential to explore modification to product design to ensure toddler safety. The prevalence of burns and scalds falls dramatically at three years of age, which may coincide with an increased cognitive awareness of the dangers of heat, a more vigilant approach by parents or a greater proportion of time spent outside the home.”, the researchers wrote in their report.

Source-Medindia