Prevention of burns in older people; development of the ‘prevent flame burns’ doorknob hanger
OBJECTIVES
As a result of an ageing population and the trend for older people to live at home longer, we suspect that the number of older people suffering from severe burns will increase. This supports the need for prevention of burns in this rapidly growing vulnerable group.
 
METHODS
All patients aged 70 years or older, who were admitted to the Burn Center of the Red Cross Hospital in Beverwijk, The Netherlands, between the end of 2008 and September 2019, were retrospectively included (n=238) from the Dutch Burns Repository (NBR-R3). This prospective registry includes patient, burn and clinical characteristics which were analysed by means of descriptive statistics. Based on the retrieved burn injury mechanism information and our clinical geriatric experience, we developed a prevention tool together with communication experts and a patient representative.
 
RESULTS
The most frequent cause of severe burns in older people is flame (n=105/238, 44%) followed by scalds (n=59/238, 25%) (Figure 1: causes of burns in older patients admitted to the Burn Center of the Red Cross Hospital in Beverwijk, The Netherlands). We observed a slight increase in the absolute number of burn patients aged 80 or older. From 2015 onward, for the first time, we observed patients of 90 years and older admitted to our Burn Center. In this group of oldest elderly, 84% are women (n=16/19) and 89% (n=17/19) were living at home at the time of the accident. The ‘prevent flame burns’ doorknob hanger we developed includes information and images on risk factors and behavioural advice to prevent burns in older people (Image 2 and 3).
 
CONCLUSION
The ageing population and the Dutch political decision that supports living at home longer, increases the need for prevention of burns in this rapidly growing vulnerable group. The ‘prevent flame burns’ doorknob hanger has been developed in the context of prevention of burns in the Netherlands (Image 2 and 3). This doorknob hanger serves as a best practice prevention tool example and is freely available for other countries in Europe.

**Prevention of burns in older people; development of the ‘prevent flame burns’ doorknob hanger**
OBJECTIVES
As a result of an ageing population and the trend for older people to live at home longer, we suspect that the number of older people suffering from severe burns will increase. This supports the need for prevention of burns in this rapidly growing vulnerable group.
 
METHODS
All patients aged 70 years or older, who were admitted to the Burn Center of the Red Cross Hospital in Beverwijk, The Netherlands, between the end of 2008 and September 2019, were retrospectively included (n=238) from the Dutch Burns Repository (NBR-R3). This prospective registry includes patient, burn and clinical characteristics which were analysed by means of descriptive statistics. Based on the retrieved burn injury mechanism information and our clinical geriatric experience, we developed a prevention tool together with communication experts and a patient representative.
 
RESULTS
The most frequent cause of severe burns in older people is flame (n=105/238, 44%) followed by scalds (n=59/238, 25%) (Figure 1: causes of burns in older patients admitted to the Burn Center of the Red Cross Hospital in Beverwijk, The Netherlands). We observed a slight increase in the absolute number of burn patients aged 80 or older. From 2015 onward, for the first time, we observed patients of 90 years and older admitted to our Burn Center. In this group of oldest elderly, 84% are women (n=16/19) and 89% (n=17/19) were living at home at the time of the accident. The ‘prevent flame burns’ doorknob hanger we developed includes information and images on risk factors and behavioural advice to prevent burns in older people (Image 2 and 3).
 
CONCLUSION
The ageing population and the Dutch political decision that supports living at home longer, increases the need for prevention of burns in this rapidly growing vulnerable group. The ‘prevent flame burns’ doorknob hanger has been developed in the context of prevention of burns in the Netherlands (Image 2 and 3). This doorknob hanger serves as a best practice prevention tool example and is freely available for other countries in Europe.

P.087 Prevention of burns in older people; development of the ‘prevent flame burns’ doorknob hanger

Dear friends and colleagues,

We will be pleased to welcome you in Turin (Italy) for the 19th European Burns Association´s Congress in 2022. Italy is honored to hold the meeting of the European Burns Association for the second time, after Verona in 1995. Turin is easily reachable from everywhere in Europe, either travelling by car, train or choosing flight connections. During the meeting, held in the renewed industrial center of the main Italian historical automotive factory (i.e. Lingotto-FIAT), we will meet international burn specialists, focusing on standards of care, progresses in burn treatment, strategies to face disaster situations, with a special attention to education of younger colleagues. However, in your spare time, you might enjoy the sweet days of Italian late summer, simply wandering in the green parks and gardens along the two rivers which cross the city, or you might decide to discover the numerous art galleries, churches, palaces, libraries, walking across elegant squares and large boulevards, passing through centuries of art and history; finally, you may choose to immerse yourself in some of the most exciting museum experiences, such as the Cinema Museum and the Turin’s Egyptian museum.

Looking forward to seeing you all in Turin for the 19th European Association´s Congress in 2022!
Maurizio Stella, Congress President, Turin Burn Centre