Preventing Child Scald and Burn Injuries (Part 1)
Today's topic is preventing scald and burn injuries in children. Most accidents occur in the home, and scalds and burns
to children almost always occur in the kitchen or bathroom of the home. For
the most part, these are preventable injuries. Burns, especially
scalds from hot water and, cooking liquids, are some of the most commonly
occurring accidents to children. Babies
and young children are most vulnerable because they're small and have
sensitive skin that requires greater protection than adult skin.
While minor
burns ("first-degree" burns) can often be safely treated at home, more serious
burns (second- and third-degree burns) require immediate medical care. Most
parents are aware that the causes of burns range from scalds, to contact with
flames or hot objects, chemical burns (from chemical spills of home cleaning
items like bleach, drain cleaner, dishwasher detergent, etc.), to electrical
burns from hot appliances or frayed electrical cords, to burned skin from
over-exposure to sun. Medical
professionals caution parents that all burns need to be treated as soon as
possible to lower the temperature of the burned area and minimize damage to the
skin and underlying tissues (in the case of severe burns).
Loma Linda Children's Hospital in Loma Linda, California, advises parents that toddlers are at greatest risk of scalds and burns as they begin to walk, climb, and reach, while children under age 5 are at greatest risk when fire strikes, as they may panic and hide in closets or under beds. Some children are needlessly burned because they think clothes protect them from flames. In children ages 3 to 8, curiosity about matches and lighters is normal. But, sadly, more than one-third of the burns to these children are the result of playing with matches.
Go to the jump for tips on how to prevent these dangerous and painful injuries.
The following simple tips to
prevent scalds and burns can make your home safer for you and your
children.
To prevent scalds in the kitchen:
- Keep hot foods and drinks away from the edge
of tables and counters. Do not put them on a tablecloth that small hands
can tug.
- If you're holding something hot, don't hold
your child at the same time.
- When you cook, keep your child away from the
stove.
- When you cook, turn pot handles toward the
back of the stove. If possible, use rear burners.
- Always watch for dangling appliance cords to
fry pans, irons, and other heated appliances (hot plates, crock pots,
etc.).
- When you pass a hot item, food or beverage, to
another person, do not pass it over the head of a child.
To prevent scalds in the bathroom:
- Test the heat of water. Turn on the hot water
at the tub faucet. Let it run for 3 to 5 minutes. Measure the temperature
with a hot water gauge or mercury thermometer.
- For safe bathing, set the water heater's
thermostat to low, warm, or 120 degrees F. Wait a day. Test the water
again. Repeat if necessary. Your clothes and dishes will get clean at this
setting!
- Install anti-scald devices in shower and
bathtub fixtures that stop water flow when the temperature exceeds 120
degrees F.
- Always check water temperature before placing
your child in the tub. A child's skin burns more easily than an
adult's. Test the water by placing
a few drops on your wrist--if it's hot for you, it's too hot for your child.
- Supervise children when they are in the
bathtub. Young children can turn the hot water on by themselves. Older
children can accidentally scald a younger child.
- If you rent, ask your landlord if it's
possible to lower the water temperature or put an anti-scald device in
your shower and bathtub fixtures.
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