Behaviors of Children Ages 15 Months to Five Years Around Microwave Ovens

The University of Chicago

Status: Completed

Conditions: Scald Burn Injuries

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01112124

14594B

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to assess the typical behavior of children ages 15 months to five years around a microwave oven. The UCH Burn and Complex Wound Center has observed scald burn injuries in young children operating and/or removing hot liquids from microwave ovens. The knowledge we hope to gain is the developmental age that a child is able to open and/or operate a microwave oven safely. This work may influence future microwave oven design to protect young children from microwave-related scald burn injuries. These injuries have resulted in visits to the emergency room, stays in the hospital and debridement and skin grafting procedures in the operating room.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 15 months to 5 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• a microwave oven in the child's home environment,
• age appropriate development,
• intact visual acuity, and
• English speaking.

Exclusion criteria

• developmental delay,
• non-English speaking.