NEWS RELEASES

Portland, Ore., January 21, 2025 - Burn risks exist in every living space, from homes to apartments to temporary shelters. During National Burn Awareness Week, February 2–8, 2025, the Legacy Oregon Burn Center (OBC) hosts an inaugural burn prevention fair to raise awareness about preventing burn injuries and fires in the home. The public is invited to join the OBC and local fire prevention agencies at this free event.

Legacy Oregon Burn Center Safety Fair & Chili Cook-Off

• Date: Sunday, February 2, 2025
• Location: Portland Expo Center 2060 N. Marine Drive Portland OR 97217
• Time: Noon – 4 pm. Free and all age-friendly

Most burns are preventable. "Scald injuries are the top burns we treat at the Oregon Burn Center,” says Erin Horrax, nurse educator for the OBC. “Of these, over 80% are children." Horrax says spilling a hot cup of tea or coffee on the skin or too hot tap water can result in burns that require months of treatment, extensive surgeries, and hospital stays. Afterward, patients can have years of healing, therapies, and repeat surgeries. 

Additional key prevention tips include:

• Kitchen Safety: Store flammable items away from heat, turn pot handles inward, and never leave cooking food unattended.
• Bathroom Precautions: Set your water heater below 120°F and supervise children in the bath.
• Sleeping Areas: Extinguish candles before sleeping and keep heat sources away from fabrics.
• General Home Safety: Test smoke alarms regularly, charge devices safely, and store chemicals out of reach.

Burn injuries continue to be a significant public health issue, with more than 398,000 people seeking medical care for burns in the United States in 2021, according to the CDC. Children under the age of five are twice as likely to be treated for burn injuries in hospital emergency departments compared to the general population. A significant number of these injuries take place within the home and can be prevented through increased awareness and education.