Allegheny Health Network’s West Penn Burn Center is stressing the importance of scald prevention which saw burn-related injuries increase by 15%, with scalds being the top reason for pediatric admissions.

This comes in the midst of the American Burn Association’s National Burn Awareness Week that began on Feb. 5.

Every year, the clinical team at AHN West Penn Burn Center treats over 700 patients with burn injuries.

The proportion of burn center admissions due to scalds continues to increase each year, with scalds comprising 32% of all admissions to U.S. burn centers.

According to the American Burn Association, scald injuries can be prevented a few ways such as running your hand through bath water to ensure there are no hot spots that could cause injury and using a tight-fitting lid on travel mugs to prevent a burn if the cup tips over.