National Burn Awareness Week (#NBAW), presented by the American Burn Association on February 2 – 8, 2025, is a chance to unite and promote burn prevention and awareness in communities.

This year’s theme focuses on reducing burn risks in homes, apartments, and all living spaces.

Burn risks exist in every living space—a house, apartment, or temporary shelter. Taking simple, proactive actions can help prevent burns and keep everyone safe.

Prevent Burn Injuries Where You Live
Some key 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. Compared to the overall population, children under five were 2.0 times as likely to be seen for burn injuries at a hospital emergency department. Many of these injuries occur in the home and are preventable through awareness and education.