Burns and scalds are skin injuries caused by heat. A burn is caused by dry heat, and a scald is caused by a combination of heat and moisture. In a kitchen, burns are often caused by fire, such as an open flame or oven door. Scalding instead comes from hot water or steam, such as oil or water spills.

Burning and scalding are serious injuries and should be treated accordingly. According to Injury Matters, Western Australians aged 25-44 experienced the highest incidence of burns and scalds between 2015-2019. Of course, cooks of all ages may be subject to kitchen injuries.

Possible causes for burns include:

• Burning yourself on an open flame
• Spilling hot oil or water on your skin
• Accidentally touching a hot surface when cooking