Safe Kids Monthly: Burn Awareness Week

Each year 465 children ages fourteen and under die due to unintentional fire or burn related injuries with children age three and younger at the greatest risk.

North Carolina comes in fifth in the top five states with 24 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

By taking a few simple precautions, we can help ensure our children’s safety.

A report from the American Burn Association indicates that the most common cause of hospitalizations of children under five is scald burns caused by hot liquids. Hot tap water accounts for nearly one in four of all scald burns and is associated with more deaths and hospitalizations than any other hot liquid burn.

A burn is one of the most painful injuries a child can suffer. Because children have thinner skin than adults, their skin burns more deeply and at lower temperatures — and young children often cannot react quickly enough to escape harm. According to a study of non-tap water scalds, 90.4% are related to hot cooking or drinking liquids.

Major causes of injury to children ages eighteen months to four years were from hot microwave food or from when an older child ages seven to fourteen was cooking or carrying the scalding substance or supervising the younger child.

Parents should set their water heater thermostats at 120 degrees. If you are unable to control the temperature of the water, install water faucets or shower heads that can shut off the flow of water when it gets too hot. Safe Kids reminds parents of these simple safety measures to use in the kitchen and the bathroom to prevent burn injuries to their children.

Kitchen:

Keep children at least three feet from hot appliances, pots, pans, or food.

Use spill resistant mugs when drinking hot liquids around children.

Avoid using tablecloths or anything that a child can pull and cause hot food to spill.

When cooking use back burners and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.

Always tuck appliance cords where children cannot reach them.

Never hold a child when cooking something hot.

Stir all food and drink before serving children to make sure it is cool enough to eat and drink.

Closely supervise children when they are in or near the kitchen.

Bathroom:

Always test the bath water with your hand before bathing children.

When children are in or near the bath, watch them closely and check the water temperature frequently.

If you are unable to control the temperature that comes out of your faucet, install special water faucets or shower heads that can shut off the flow of water when it gets too hot.

Brought to you by Safe Kids Henderson-Vance Coalition. For more information on joining the Coalition contact us at www.hendersonvancesafekids.org or call Lt. Irvin Robinson or Officer Angela Feingold at 252.438.4141.