Alert as children burned by 230°C hair tongs

Published on Thursday 3 December 2009 21:30

SCOTTISH youngsters are having to undergo skin grafts after suffering serious injuries caused by hair straighteners.

Now a major campaign has been launched to warn parents about the risks when using the devices, which can reach extremely high temperatures.

The move follows a growing number of incidents where babies and toddlers are being treated in hospital for burns caused by hair straighteners. One in ten of those hurt have injuries so severe they will need skin grafts, doctors said.

Hair straighteners can reach temperatures of up to 230C and take as long as 40 minutes to cool down.

Yesterday, health officials in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde launching the campaign said the statistics were "worrying".

The figures from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) at Yorkhill showed that in 2007 alone, 36 babies and toddlers attended their A&E with a burn caused by hair straighteners.

In the first seven months of this year, 28 young children have already required treatment for these injuries, the hospital said.

Sharon Ramsay, burns nurse specialist at the RHSC, has treated a number of children with straightener burns.

"Very young children, mainly in the 0-3 age group are picking up, sitting on or standing on hair straighteners," she said.

"Injuries range from superficial burns to severe, deep dermal or full thickness burns.

"So far this year the RHSC A&E department has seen approximately 28 children and 11 per cent have required skin grafts resulting in a hospital stay, intensive treatment and a follow-up intensive regime of scar care for anything up to two years."

The NHS has also teamed up with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue as part of their campaign because as well as the risk of burns, straighteners have also been linked to house fires.

Lesley Nish, the board's health improvement officer, said: "Many people think that if straighteners are turned off they are safe. Sadly that is not the case at all.

"Straighteners become incredibly hot very quickly, with some reaching temperatures of up to 230 degrees and they can take about 40 minutes to cool down.

"It is actually at this point, when they are cooling down, that most children are getting burnt."

Ms Nish said it was "heartbreaking" to see young children injured by hair straighteners.

The campaign's slogan is "Straight off, Straight in. Straight away".

"Our campaign isn't just about raising awareness but it's also about trying to get people to switch off and store hair straighteners safely," Ms Nish added.

"As part of the campaign we are providing free heat-resistant bags designed for straighteners to go into once they have been turned off."

Garry Milne, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue's Area commander for South Glasgow, said: "We support and commend this move to reduce the risk of children suffering hideous injuries as a result of using hair straighteners. I should also point out that the improper use of straighteners is now to blame for a considerable number of house fires across the UK."

Yesterday, the campaign was also backed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Nikkie Butters, RoSPA Scotland's home safety development officer, said: "With hair straighteners likely to be a popular Christmas present this year, this campaign couldn't have come at a better time.

"We all know that curious children love to get to grips with their surroundings by exploring and sometimes copying what they've seen mummy or big sister doing, but burns can happen so easily."

'We're hoping she won't be scarred'

KAYLA Murray is among a growing number of children who have suffered serious burns from hair straighteners.

The 18-month-old from Johnstone, Renfrewshire, injured her arm and hand in an accident at home. Her mother, Michelle, is backing the safety campaign after her daughter went through painful skin grafts.

Kayla's accident happened in August as the family prepared to go to a wedding.

"I was at the hairdresser's and my sister was in the kitchen helping relatives with their hair. Kayla managed to get into the kitchen, where the hair straighteners were lying on a worktop," Michelle said.

"She pulled the flex attached to them and this brought the straighteners sliding down her arm. She tried to pull them off with her hand, which meant it also got burnt.

"We're hoping she won't be scarred," Michelle said.