Just Leaked! Bursting into Social Media – Hot Water Bottle Burns Animation
Rebecca Schrale1, Gabby Pulbrook1, Fiona Orr1, 1Tasmanian Burns Unit, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Abstract
Introduction:
Hot water bottle burn presentations peaked in Tasmania in 2020 during the COVID Pandemic. In 2021 and 2022 the number remained high and static with an alarming trend of inadequate first aid in this group.
Method:
Audit review of all paediatric and adult inpatient and outpatient burns seen at the Tasmanian Burns Unit between 2017-2022. Data sourced from BRANZ and the digital medical record. Data fields included sex, age, type of injury, mechanism, month of injury, TBSA%, first aid, surgical intervention and length of stay.
Collaboration occurred between Kidsafe Tasmania, Public Health, ANZBA Prevention Committee and ACCC regarding a targeted prevention campaign.
Results:
A one-minute animation on hot water bottle burns prevention and first aid was created for use on social media and available on the internet as a resource for the community and clinicians. The campaign focuses on diversity and health literacy. Supporting brochures and posters are planned and the campaign will be released for National Burns Awareness Month- Kidsafe Australia.
Recommendations:
The one-minute animation will be shared across Australia and New Zealand in a targeted social media campaign. Hot water bottle burns prevention continues to be a focus of the unit and in particular the burns first aid message. We plan to research further into the need for translation of these materials into additional languages over the next year depending on access to funding.
Evaluation of the project will occur through the review of hot water bottle injury data in Tasmania, including Australian and New Zealand and a report of the analytics from social media.
Biography
Burns Nurse Practitioner, Tasmanian Burns Unit, Royal Hobart Hospital. Clinical Nursing lead for Burns statewide. Tasmanian co-representative for ANZBA Prevention Committee and active on multiple committees within ANZBA