Burns: Household Safety and Prevention

Most burns are preventable. By reading these pages and following the advice given, you can reduce the chances your child will get a burn injury. Remember, scars from burns can last a lifetime.

General kitchen safety

Most burns happen in the kitchen. Protect your children by following these rules:

• Keep young children away from the kitchen counter when you are cooking or making hot drinks.
• Use the back burners of the stove.
• Keep pot handles turned inward, away from the edge of the stove.
• Store cookies and other treats away from the stove.
• Use short appliance cords. Do not let them dangle over the edges of counters or tables.
• Do not use placemats or tablecloths when small children are eating at the table.
• Keep hot liquids away from the edges of tables and counters.
• Never let a small child try to pour hot liquids.

Microwave safety

Foods and liquids heated in the microwave over can be very hot. They can easily burn your child.

Protect your child by following these rules:

• Do not let children use the microwave oven by themselves.
• Let liquids heated in the microwave cool for several minutes before letting your child drink them.
• Remove plastic wraps from food containers heated in the microwave very carefully. Begin with the corner farthest from you so that the steam does not rise up in your face.
• Stir microwaved foods well before serving. Food that is too hot can burn your child's mouth.
• Be very careful heating bottles in the microwave. Hot formula can easily burn your baby's mouth or tongue. It is best to heat a bottle on the stove.
• If you do use a microwave, shake the baby's bottle to make sure the liquid is evenly heated after warming it.
• Always test the baby's formula by dripping a little onto the inside of your wrist. It should feel lukewarm.
• Overheated bottles can explode. Loosen the lid when heating, then tighten it before giving it to your child.

Household cleaners

Some household cleaners, for example cleaners with ammonia or bleach, can cause burns if they get on the skin or are swallowed. Keep household cleaners out of your child's reach. Store them in a cupboard with a childproof lock.

Never mix different cleaners. Potentially deadly gases can be released.

Bathroom safety

Burns also happen in the bathroom. Burns that are caused by contact with a hot liquid are called scalds. Water that is 60°C (140°F) destroys human skin in only 6 seconds. A scald can do as much damage as a flame just as quickly.

If the water coming from the tap is too hot, it may scald your child. Scalds often happen when small children are left alone – even very briefly.

Protect your child by following these rules:

• The best way to prevent scalds is to lower the maximum temperature coming out of your taps. Check the temperature of the water coming from your tap. Make sure the temperature gauge on your water heater is set at 49°C (120°F) or lower. You may be able to lower the temperature on your water heater yourself.
• If your water temperature is higher than 49°C (120°F) and you cannot adjust it yourself, ask the electricity, oil, or gas company that provides the fuel that heats your water to lower the temperature on your water heater.
• If you live in an apartment and do not have access to the water heater, call your superintendent and explain your problem. He or she may be able to reduce the temperature at the source, or you may be able to put in an anti-scalding device on your taps.
• Always run your child's bathwater yourself. Check the temperature of the water before you put your child into the bath.
• Make sure a responsible person supervises your child the whole time they are in the bath. Do not leave brothers or sisters to supervise younger children in the bath.
• Never leave your child alone or turn your back even for a second when your child is in the kitchen or bathroom. Do not leave the kitchen or bathroom to answer the phone or the door or to get forgotten items.

More ways to prevent burn injuries

Stop, drop, and roll

Teach your children what to do if their clothing catches fire: stop, drop, and roll. Your child should not run because this will spread the flames. Rolling on the ground will smother the flames.

Do not hide from fire

Teach your children not to hide if the house is on fire. Instead, the whole family should have an escape plan that is practiced yearly.

When holding your child

Do not drink hot liquids while you are holding your child or when infants or toddlers are nearby. The most common type of scald is caused by hot tea or coffee. Tell others this is the household rule.

Do not smoke while you are holding your child.

Around the house

Keep matches and lighters in a safe place where young children cannot reach them. Teach your children not to play with matches and lighters. They are not toys.

Store your iron in a safe place, especially when it is still hot after you have used it. Make sure that the electrical cords from irons and curling irons are not left hanging down over counters and ironing boards.

Keep your water vaporizer where your child cannot reach it, or use a humidifier instead.

Make sure your babysitters and other caregivers know the safety rules that will help prevent burns from happening. All caregivers should also know first aid.

Use guards over radiators, or arrange the furniture so that your child cannot touch the radiators when they are hot.

Electrical safety

Do not let your children play with electrical cords.

Make sure extension connections, where the two ends of different cords meet, are out of sight.

Safety caps are dummy plugs that fill empty wall sockets. Put them into unused electrical outlets, including those on power bars.

Protecting against sunburn

Do not expose babies, toddlers, and young children to direct sunlight in the summer. Their skin is more sensitive and can burn very easily. Keep children out of the sun between 10 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. That is when the sun's rays are strongest.

Apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50 or higher. The SPF number is marked on the sunscreen container.

Dress your child in clothing that covers the arms and legs. Have your child wear a wide-brimmed hat.

Always supervise your children

Do not leave children alone near campfires, fireplaces, stoves, or heaters of any kind.

Burn first aid

Cool the burn Hold the burned or scalded area under cold water for at least 10 minutes.

Cover the burn Use a clean dry cloth to lightly cover the burn.

Call 911 Call for help if the burn is large or on the face, hands, feet or groin.

Don’t use ice Putting ice on a burn can cause frostbite and further damage the skin.

Don’t apply ointments No butter, toothpaste, lotions, ointments, or other creams. Applying ointments could prevent proper healing.

Don’t break blisters Broken blisters are more likely to get infected.

In case of burns caused by chemicals such as ammonia, bleach, and other household cleaners

• Remove all clothing, including underwear, gloves, and shoes covered with the cleanser.
• If the cleaner is a powder, brush your child's skin with a soft cloth.
• Flush the area immediately with large amounts of water.
• Take your child to the nearest emergency department.