Burns can result from contact with heat, chemicals,
electricity, or radiation. They can damage not only the skin,
but other organs. They are most common in young
children.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Here are some tips and reminders
that will protect your children from burns:
Don't hold a baby when you are cooking or drinking
anything hot. The baby may grab for it and get burned if it
spills.
Keep coffee pots, irons, hot foods, and boiling water
away from the edge of the table or
stove.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so
children can't reach them.
Never open the oven door with a child
nearby.
Before putting your child into the bathtub, check the
water temperature with your wrist.
Don't let children touch the faucet handles in the
bathtub. They may turn on the hot water and get burned.
Never leave a baby or young child alone in a
tub.
Lower your hot water heater setting to low or medium
(130 degrees F).
Use a cool mist humidifier instead of a steam
vaporizer.
Put fireplace screens or guards around fireplaces,
furnaces, or radiators. Keep space heaters out of your
child's reach. Don't leave a child alone around fires of
any kind.
Make sure your child's pajamas are
flame-resistant.
If you smoke, don't leave lit cigarettes unattended.
Dispose of them properly. Keep cigarette lighters and
matches in a safe place where children can't reach
them.
Install smoke detectors. Check them on a regular
basis to make sure they are still working. Teach your
children the best way to get out of the house in a
fire.
Lock up liquids that may catch on fire, such as
gasoline or kerosene. Leave them in the container that they
came in and label them.
Before putting a child in a car seat, check the
temperature of the seat, especially any metal parts. Cover
the car seat with a towel when you park in the
sun.
Allow only older children to use fireworks and only
with adult supervision.
Keep children away from electrical cords. Replace
frayed cords. Cover unused electrical outlets with
childproof covers (available in hardware stores and baby
departments).
Test the temperature of infant food heated in a
microwave oven before feeding it to a
baby.
To prevent sunburn, always apply sunscreen to
children before going out in the sun.
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