More than any other injury, a burn is often a risk for life. Indeed, the skin is a very important body organ. Therefore, if its integrity is affected it can disturb the functioning of the body.

The skin does not only play an important role in protecting against infections, but it also controls the temperature and balances the body fluid.

The consequences are even more serious with children because their skin is less thick and thuis more vulnerable than the skin of the adults. Hospital medical care is often necessary.

Since an accident is most of the time "unexpected", the child has not been prepared for this hospitalization and for the various treatments he will receive. This can cause a serious trauma for the young victim and his family circle: pain during the treatment and kinesitherapy care, distance from his family and close little friends. Sometimes, the child becomes unrecognizable. Family and friends are torn apart between both the fear of consequences and the feelings of guilt and remorse.

Children between 1 to 4 years old are obviously more at risk..

The environment in which they learn to crawl, climb, run, touch, and taste is a new world. These young human beings are very fidgety, very curious, very undertaking, very inventive, but mainly less experienced.

They are neither aware of any danger whatsoever, nor of the risks involved. They pull towards themselves a boiling pot, touch a hot iron, hit the hot door of an oven, grab the tablecloth, and play with a socket…

Consequently the main causes of burns suffered by children and teenagers are:

- hot liquids
- contact with a flame
- contact with hot objects