Kids are naturally curious, small and have a knack for getting into things they shouldn’t. As a parent we want to protect our kids from all harm, but as we all know, accidents happen. February 1st begins Burn Awareness Week, below I will discuss ways you can prevent your little ones from burns and scalds in your home.
The kitchen is a prime spot for burns to happen. The smell of cookies baking in the oven, tasty sauces simmering on the stove or wanting to “help” make Moms’ coffee is hard to resist for little curious hands. A great way to start is creating a “no kid zone” in the kitchen around stoves, ovens and hot items. Place pots and pans on the back burner with handles turned away from the edge of the stove. It is good practice to never hold a child while cooking or eating/drinking hot soups and beverages. For kitchen tables, avoid using tablecloths or large placemats. Children have a tendency to pull on them and overturn a hot drink or plate of food. When preparing a baby bottle, never heat in the microwave. Microwaves heat unevenly, resulting in pockets of breast milk or formula that can scald the baby’s mouth or throat.
Bath time can be lots of fun for children. Learning about water and playing with toys can make bath time a great learning experience. A safe practice is to make sure the thermostat on your hot water heater is set to 120 degrees F or use the “low-medium setting.” A child can be scalded in 5 seconds in water if the temperature is 140 degrees F. If you are unable to control the water temperature, say if you live in an apartment for example, install an anti-scald device in water faucets and showerheads to avoid any potential burns.
Lastly, keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn and away from small hands. Be sure to always blow them out when you leave the room and before bed. For homes with small children, it is best to install safety gates around fireplaces, ovens and furnaces. Remember, glass doors around a fireplace will take longer to cool down.
Accidents are going to happen, but by utilizing these safe practices we can make our children safer from burns and scalds in our home. If you have any questions regarding child safety contact Kayla Hefner, Child Health and Safety Specialist for Catawba Valley Medical Center and Coordinator for Safe Kids Catawba County at (828) 485-2300 Ext. 6204 or email me at kshefner@catawbavalleymc.org
