Hot tap water scalds prevention: A case for the power of public health partnerships in affecting regulatory change

That gleaming piece of plumbing hardware in daily use, the hot water tap, may seem innocuous and even stylish, and positively associated with clean clothes, clean dishes, and warm cozy baths, but paediatricians and public health professionals are painfully aware that there is another side to the story. That same tap is the household object that can serve up water that burns like fire, with devastating consequences; 150 severe and traumatic life-changing injuries to young children are reported across Canada annually (1). An additional 150 hot tap water injuries are endured by the elderly and individuals with disabilities each year (2,3).