NSPCC issues advice on identifying deliberate burns on children

The NSPCC issued guidelines today to professionals working with children to help them spot the difference between accidental and deliberate burns.

The advice, based on scientific research, is designed to help GPs, health visitors and social workers become more confident in the identifying child abuse.

Doctors’ career fears

The charity said some doctors were increasingly reticent in airing concerns about child abuse, due to the potentially career-ending consequences of making a mistake.

Thermal injuries on children is one of a series of leaflets on physical child abuse produced by the NSPCC in partnership with the department of child health at Cardiff University. It shows how to differentiate between accidental injuries, such as those caused by a child pulling hot liquid over themselves, and intentional scalds and burns.

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