Know about preventing burns in kids, tips to
prevent child from burning and child safety tips for burns.
Preventing Burns in Kids
Babies have thinner and softer skin and naturally, burns caused by
hot liquids and vapor scald them more deeply and at lower temperature.
Water with a temperature above 140° Fahrenheit can cause
third-degree burns in a baby in just a few seconds. Infants who can
crawl and toddlers like to experiment with things and can just twist
open a hot tap water in the bathroom or the sink or may fall in a hot
water bath tub while trying to touch it. They may even pry open a
thermos flask with hot coffee and let the liquid fall on them in the
process, causing severe burns.
One has to be careful while drinking or doing anything with hot
liquids such as soups and hot tea near a baby or they may just give
the vessel a push with their hands or legs. They can also just try to
touch the handles of pots and pans; causing them to tip and the hot
contents can scald the baby quite seriously. Here are some tips and
ideas on how to prevent burns in kids:
- Annual checkup of heating system is necessary, especially in
families with small children to avoid any malfunctioning such as
fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Electrical appliances and cords should always be kept out of your
kids' reach.
- Keeping fire extinguishers at home that can be easily used and
well within your reach at all times ensure greater safety for you
and your family.
- Never allow children near space and kerosene heaters, woodstoves,
barbecue grills and fireplaces and erect barriers or install child
locks, if required to keep them out of the places where they are
kept.
- Never place hot liquids near the edge of a table, where your
toddler can teach it or from where they may fall easily if a table
gets little unbalanced accidentally.
- Never try to hold your baby and carry hot liquids or drink hot
tea or coffee.
- People who smoke should be careful never to smoke in bed and
dispose of butts and ashes properly and not before they are fully
extinguished.
- Smoke detectors warn you in case of any fire or short circuit
that may cause your house to burn, so install them for your and your
baby's safety.
- The hot water heater should be set at 120°F to prevent
scalding in babies even if they touch it accidentally.
- Using tablecloths is not safe in households with small babies for
they can just pull the cloth and make everything kept on it to fall
including hot liquids kept on the table.
- While cooking, never allow the children in the kitchen. Naughty
children can be made to sit on a high chair while toddlers may be
made to sit away from the stove with handles of pots and pans turned
away from them.
- While traveling outdoors, be sure to cover young infants with
hats and shades and keep them out of direct sunlight. If necessary,
use sunscreen.
