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Burn safety: Protect your child from burns

Children learn by touching things, including those that can be dangerous. Promote burn safety by taking these important child-safety measures.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Burn safety is a foreign concept for most young explorers. In fact, one of the most difficult lessons young children might learn is that some things — such as stoves, radiators and flickering flames — can be painfully hot. And if children play with matches or lighters, the threat can extend to the entire family. Take simple burn-safety precautions to prevent injuries and the dangerous situations that cause them.

Burn safety at home

Many ordinary things in a home — from bath water and hot food to electrical outlets — can cause childhood burns. To prevent burns, follow these burn-safety tips:

  • Reduce water temperature. Set the thermostat on your hot water heater to below 120 F (48.9 C). Consider installing anti-scald devices on bathtub faucets and shower heads. Always test the water temperature before your child gets in the tub.
  • Avoid hot spills. Don't cook, drink or carry hot beverages or soup while holding a child. Keep hot foods and liquids away from table and counter edges. Don't use tablecloths or placemats, which young children can pull down. When you're using the stove, use back burners and turn the handles of your pots and pans inward. Avoid leaving food cooking on the stove unattended.
  • Establish 'no' zones. Block access to the stove and fireplace, and make space heaters and hot water heaters inaccessible.
  • Unplug irons. Store items designed to get hot, such as clothes irons, unplugged and out of reach.
  • Test food temperature. Food or liquids warmed in a microwave may heat unevenly. Never warm a baby's bottle in the microwave.
  • Choose a cool-water humidifier or vaporizer. If you use a hot-steam vaporizer, keep it out of reach.
  • Address outlets and electrical cords. Place plastic plugs in electrical outlets. Inserting a fork, key or other metal object into an outlet could result in an electrical burn. Keep electrical cords and wires out of the way so children don't chew on them. Replace damaged, brittle or frayed electrical cords.

Also, check product labels to make sure mattresses and pajamas meet federal flammability standards. Avoid loosefitting garments made of 100 percent cotton, such as oversized T-shirts.

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References
  1. Treating and preventing burns. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/Treating-and-Preventing-Burns.aspx. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  2. Information about smoke alarms. U.S. Fire Administration. http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/usfaparents/alarms/. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  3. Match and lighter safety. U.S. Fire Administration. http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/usfaparents/matches/. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  4. Information about home fire escape planning. U.S. Fire Administration. http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/usfaparents/escape/. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  5. Children: Fire prevention and home fire safety. U.S. Fire Administration. http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/media/quick_response/ffwf-1.shtm. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  6. Bedroom fire safety helps you sleep sound at night: A factsheet on bedroom fire prevention. U.S. Fire Administration. http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/fswy2.pdf. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  7. Home fire prevention and preparedness. National Safety Council. http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/Resources/Documents/Home_Fire_Prevention_and_Preparedness.pdf. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  8. Candle safety tips. National Fire Protection Association. http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1710&itemID=41182&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fact%20sheets/Candles/Candle%20safety%20tips. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  9. Burn injury fact sheet. National Safe Kids Campaign. http://www.preventinjury.org/PDFs/BURN_INJURY.pdf. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  10. Burn prevention. Home Safety Council. http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/SafetyGuide/sg_burns_w001.asp. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  11. CPSC warns of hazards from furnaces, space heaters and fireplaces. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06053.html. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  12. Baby-proofing your home. National Safety Council. http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/Resources/Documents/Baby-Proofing_Your_Home.pdf. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  13. Burns: Avoiding household burns. American College of Emergency Physicians. http://www.acep.org/content.aspx?id=25990&terms=burns. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  14. Fire safety tips. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/firesafety.htm. Accessed Nov. 10, 2010.
  15. Formula feeding of term infants. In: Kleinman RE, ed. Pediatric Nutrition Handbook. 6th ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009:61.
  16. Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester Minn. Nov. 12, 2010.
CC00044 Feb. 12, 2011

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