Honeywell warns over - 65's and their carers of scalding danger in the bathroom.

Honeywell lists recommendations to prevent scalding among the elderly.

BRACKNELL, UK, 3 SEPTEMBER 2002 -  The elderly are at particular risk of life threatening scald burns, warns Honeywell, the leading controls company.  These dangers to over-65s occur most commonly in the bathroom and are much less widely promoted than for toddlers under two – the other high risk group. 

“While both age groups are particularly prone to scald burns due to their thinner skin, the elderly are at increased risk because their skin tends to be less sensitive, so they might not be able to pull away from hot water quickly enough to avoid scalding,” notes Matthew Gordon of Honeywell.  “They also tend to be less agile and so are at risk of injury while trying to escape from a scalding bath or a blast of hot water from a shower.  Scalding injuries often cover a large area of the body, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality.

People who are physically or mentally impaired are particularly at risk due to their slower reaction times and inability to respond.

Within care homes, to prevent risks from Legionella, hot water must be stored and distributed at high temperatures.  So there must be fail-safe mixing control at the outlet to prevent scalding, states Honeywell, whose tamperproof thermostatic mixing valves ensure water to baths and showers is delivered at a pre-set safe temperature.  The same risks are present for these people in their own homes as well.

This is specified in Standard 25 of the UK Department of Health’s National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People, published by the Secretary of State for Health under Section 23(1) of the Care Standards Act 2000, as follows: “Water is stored at a temperature of at least 60 degrees C and distributed at 50 degrees minimum, to prevent risks from Legionella.  To prevent risks from scalding, pre-set valves of a type unaffected by changes in water pressure and which have fail safe devices are fitted locally to provide water close to 43 degrees C.”

The standard is applicable to care homes which provide accommodation together with nursing or personal care.  Honeywell gives the following advice to elderly people living in the community and to their carers:

• Always use the “elbow test” to check bath water temperature before bathing.  The water should be warm, not hot.  Or use a thermometer – over 43 degrees C is too hot.

• Consider installing a thermostatic mixing valve, which ensures the water in the bath is at a safe temperature.

• Never leave a full bath unattended, the vulnerable person may climb unwittingly into scalding water and be unable to get out.

• Be vigilant whenever a handicapped person under your care takes a bath. Ensure they do not turn on the hot water tap if the hot water is at the usual storage temperature – 60 degrees C or above – as it will scald them.

• Always run cold water into a bath first.

If someone gets burnt or scalded, Honeywell reminds carers that the government advises them to:

• Keep the affected area under cold water for as long as possible (at least 10 minutes).

• Don't remove anything sticking to the injury. Cover it with sterile, non fluffy material; cling - film is ideal.

• Do not apply anything to the scald (for example, no creams, ointment, fat or ice).

• For any size of burn, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Honeywell’s TM200V thermostatic mixing valve mixes the hot and cold supply to deliver water at a pre-set temperature.  A lockable safety cap displays the temperature set point and prevents tampering.  It is ideal for nursing homes, hospitals, sheltered housing and playgroups.  Two sizes are available, 15mm and 22mm, making it suitable for baths, basins, bidets and showers. 

Honeywell is a US$24-billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; power generation systems; speciality chemicals; fibres; plastics; and electronic and advanced materials.  Honeywell employs approximately 115,000 people in 95 countries and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HON, as well as on the London, Chicago and Pacific stock exchanges.  It is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.  Additional information on the company is available on the Internet at www.honeywell.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements about future business operations, financial performance and market conditions.  Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties inherent in business forecasts as further described in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act

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