Northern Ireland Executive

It’s important that parents, relatives and carers are aware of the hazards which can lead to burns and scalds, and take steps to make sure children are kept safe.

Reduce the risk of accidents

Accidents can happen quickly in or around the home, sometimes it takes just seconds, and occasionally these can lead to  burns and scalds.

But these accidents can easily be prevented by being aware of the dangers and hazards that are in the home, and taking steps to reduce the risks and make the home as safe as possible.

Hot appliances, liquids, and bath water are responsible for more than half of all burns and scalds, with young children being particularly vulnerable.

Be aware that:

• hot drinks can still scald 15 minutes after they’ve been made and can result in years of skin graft treatment –  make sure hot drinks are out of reach of babies and children
• hot water scalds in seconds – run the cold water first and always check the temperature of bath water
• hair straighteners can get very hot very quickly and cause serious burns that scar for life – keep out of the reach of children and put them away safely after use

You can get more advice, including a video showing the dangers in the home, at this link:

Prevention is always better than a cure. 

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All women are urged to be ‘breast aware’ and get screened when invited. It’s vital to recognise the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and to get checked early.

Breast screening

Prevention and early detection are key to saving lives from breast cancer.

All women who are invited for breast screening are encouraged to think about going.

Most women will have normal mammograms. Out of every 100 women who attend for screening, around four are asked to come back for further tests. Most of them will have a normal result.

There is information about screening on the page below.

Screening remains the best way of detecting breast cancer at an early stage when treatment can be more effective.

Signs and symptoms

It is important for women to look out for changes in the appearance of their breasts, such as:

• a change in size or outline of either breast, especially those caused by arm movement
• any puckering, dimpling or redness of the skin
• veins that stand out more than usual

Women should be aware of any feelings of pain or discomfort in one part of either the breast or armpit, particularly if it is new and persistent.

Women should also look and feel for any lumps or thickening in either breast that feels different from the other breast, as well as any swelling or lumps under the armpit or around the collarbone.

Also look out for any changes to the nipple, such as a nipple that:

• has become pulled in
• has changed shape
• has a discharge
• bleeds
• has a rash or has crusted, flaky skin

If the change is due to cancer, earlier detection may mean simpler and more successful treatment.

Many changes are harmless but all should be checked by a GP. 

You can find out more on the breast cancer page.

While breast cancer is much more common in women, it can also affect men. In rare cases it develops in the small amount of breast tissue men have behind their nipples.

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