Introduction:
Burn injury is more prevalent in young children under 5 years of age than in any other age group. In children admitted to Dutch burn centres, scalds are the most common type of burn injury (86%). In the Netherlands, 5% of severe scalds in children under 5 years of age are caused by electric water kettles. Since the introduction of boiling water taps on the Dutch market in 1992, electric water kettles in kitchens were gradually replaced by boiling water taps. Nowadays, 25% of the young family's has a boiling water tap in their kitchen. With a boiling water tap, only the necessary amount of hot water is used, contrary to an elctrical water kettle which often boils more water than necessary.

Objectives:
Since scalds by electric water kettles are notorious for their large TBSA (total body surface area) burned, an alternative for electric water kettles may prevent some of the severe scalds in children. The aim of this study therefore was to elucidate the influence of boiling water taps on the number of severe scalds in young children.

Methods:
The outcomes of an aetiological prospective cohort study were used to determine the incidence rate of severe scalds due to boiling water taps and electric water kettles in children under 5 years of age. By comparing the percentage of boiling water tap owners to the number of scalds, the risk for boiling water tap accidents could be predicted. The same calculation was made for electric water kettles. Results The incidence rate of severe scalds due to electric water kettles in children under 5 years of age was 2.6 per 100,000 children. If the incidence rate for boiling water tap scalds would have been the same as for electric water kettle scalds, we expected that 6 children in our aetiological study were burned by boiling water taps. However, no severe scalds due to boiling water taps were found.

Conclusion:
To prevent severe scalds, containers with large amounts of hot water within possible reach of young children should be avoided. Therefore, boiling water taps, if safe, may be a good alternative for electric water kettles. The outcomes of our study indicated that the risk of severe scalds in children under 5 years of age is lower for boling water water taps than for electric water kettles. Keywords Boiling water tap Children 0-4 Scalds