Contact burns: the influence of agents and mechanisms of injury on anatomical burn locations in children <5 years old and associations with child protection referrals.

This prospective study of 816 accidental contact burns in children under 5 identifies characteristic patterns linking burn location to causative agent and mechanism, with hands most commonly affected from reaching while stationary. The research provides evidence-based anatomical patterns to help clinicians distinguish accidental burns from those requiring child protection assessment.