Scald prevention

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Hot liquids cause approximately 70% of burns in children. Learn how to keep your children safe from scalds and how to treat a burn.

Key points

  • Hot liquids are the major cause of burn injuries in young children. Burns that are caused by contact with a hot liquid are called scalds.
  • Scalds are preventable. Do not leave children alone around hot beverages or food preparation areas, including the stove. Turn handles of pots on the stove inwards.
  • If your child has a scald injury, remove any clothes that are covering the injury. Then, use water that is either room temperature or a bit cooler than room temperature to cool the burn over a period of 20 minutes.

Hot liquids are the major cause of burn injuries in young children. Burns that are caused by contact with a hot liquid are called scalds. They are preventable. A burn from hot water can lead to deep burns requiring surgery and to permanent scars.

Scald prevention in the kitchen 

  • Provide proper supervision when children are around hot items, especially when they are too young to understand the risks.
  • Keep young children away from food preparation areas.
  • Do not let children play in the kitchen.
  • When possible, use the back burners of the stove and keep pot handles turned in.
  • Use stovetop element guards.
  • Never hold a child when drinking a hot liquid or while cooking.
  • Place hot drinks out of reach of children. Test the temperature of hot food and drinks before giving it to your children to ensure it is warm and not hot.
  • Do not let your child eat or drink hot items over their lap or in the car. Instead, always eat and drink at a table to prevent hot items from falling onto your child.
  • Keep kitchen appliances and their cords away from the reach of young children.

Scald prevention in the bathroom

  • If you are able, reduce the temperature of the water coming out of your taps to 49°C (120°F) or lower.
  • Always watch children during bath time. Never leave a child alone in a tub of hot water. Use an anti-scald tap device. The bathwater should be less than 38°C (100°F).
  • Place your child’s back to the faucet of the bathtub, so they cannot reach the tap and turn on the water.
  • Keep appliances and their cords away from the reach of young children, including irons, and curling irons.
  • Teach children to turn on the cold-water tap before the hot water tap.

Burn First Aid

 

Source

Scalds and burns. Parachute. Retrieved from http://www.parachutecanada.org/injury-topics/item/scalds-and-burns

Last updated: 7月 24th 2024