National Burn Awareness Week (Feb. 5-11), is a great reminder to parents and caregivers that fire is just one cause of burn injuries - children can also be seriously injured by hot foods and beverages, heating appliances, hot pots and pans, electrical currents and chemicals. Of particular emphasis this year is the prevention of scald injuries. According to the
American Burn Association and
Shriners Children’s Hospital, about 95 percent of scald burns (which are caused by hot liquids, steam or foods) occur in the home. Scalds are the most common burn injury among young children and one of the leading causes of accidental death in the home for children under age four. U.S. hospitals treat an estimated 16,000 children under five for scalds every year.
Here are some recommendations to help prevent scald injuries.
Install anti-scald devices on water faucets and shower heads
Use knob covers on faucets
Create “kid free zones” in the kitchen near the stove
Reduce water temperature - the maximum recommended residential water temperature is 120° F (48° C)
Additional resources:
NW Burn Foundation
Center for Disease Control
Safe Kids
