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How Can I Protect My Child From Burn Injuries?
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Published: June 6, 2008
More children and adolescents die from accidental injuries than all childhood diseases combined.
Burn-related injuries are the third leading cause of death from injury in children ages 1 to 4, second only to drowning and auto accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most burns occur in the home. The most common are injuries caused by contact with hot foods or liquids spilled in the kitchen, or hot water from the sink or bathtub. Two out of every three toddlers hospitalized for burns are treated for these scald burns. A young child's sensitive skin burns more easily and deeply than the thicker skin of older children and adults.
Contact burns, which occur when hot objects come in contact with the skin, are also common among young children. Contact burns can happen quickly when children grab electrical appliances such as stove burners, irons or Crock-Pots that remain turned on and within reach. Even too-hot car-seat straps and buckles may cause burns.
With their natural curiosity about fire, children also may be enticed by the movement and light of flames. They can easily burn themselves playing with matches, cigarette lighters, candles and fireworks. Among adolescents, the most common causes of burn injuries are flame burns and electrical burns, the result of risky behaviors such as climbing utility poles or antennas.
Here are some tips to help keep your little ones safe from burns:
•Turn handles from pots and pans inward on the stove to avoid hot spills. Keep steaming foods and liquids away from the edge of tables and counters. Don't hold a young child while carrying hot beverages or soup.
•Reduce the setting of the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120 degrees or lower. Although most newer water heaters are preset to this temperature, the higher temperatures of older water heaters can be dangerous. At 180 degrees, it can take just three seconds to sustain a third-degree burn. Consider installing anti-scald devices on faucets.
•Closely watch toddlers at all times while letting them explore their environment. Unsupervised children can accidentally start fires by attempting to cook, knocking over lighted candles or using electrical appliances incorrectly.
•Never leave a barbecue grill unattended while children are nearby.
•Use childproof electrical outlet covers to prevent toddlers from inserting metal objects such as keys, which can cause electrical burns.
•Keep matches, gasoline, lighters and all other flammable materials out of reach and locked away. Never let children handle fireworks.
•Install smoke alarms in your home, preferably near bedrooms and the kitchen. Check the detectors routinely to ensure they work, and replace batteries once a year or as needed.
•Have an escape plan ready in case a house fire breaks out, and practice the drill to make sure family members are familiar with all exits.
Accidents can happen, but many burns are preventable injuries. A few simple measures could prove to be lifesavers.
Dr. Weathers is associate professor of General Pediatrics at USF Health.
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