Nearly half of severe burns and scalds occur in children under five years. About half of these accidents to children happen in the kitchen, with scalds from hot liquids being the most common. Many accidents involve the child reaching up and pulling on a mug or cup of hot drink. Other common causes include children falling or climbing into a bath of very hot water, and accidents with kettles, teapots, coffee-pots, pans, irons, cookers, fires and heaters.

Tips on preventing burns - particularly to children

Preventing scalds and burns

• Keep young children out of the kitchen unless they are fully supervised.
• The front of the oven, and even the washing machine, can become hot enough to burn a young child. Keep them away.
• Use the back rings of cookers when possible. Turn pan handles towards the back and away from where a child may reach and grab.
• Never drink hot drinks with a baby or child in your lap.
• Never let a child drink a hot drink through a straw.
• Teach older children how to boil kettles and how to use the cooker safely. There is no right age for this. Every child is different. However, it is important to teach them correctly when the time is right rather than let them experiment and find out for themselves.
• Never heat up a baby's milk in a microwave. It may heat the milk unevenly, and some parts may become very hot. Stir baby food well if it is heated in a microwave.
• Put cold water in the bath or sink first, and then bring up the temperature with hot water.
• Do not set the thermostat for hot water too high in case children turn on the hot tap.

Preventing fires

• Fit smoke alarms in every floor of the home and check them regularly.
• Use fireguards for fires and heaters. Do not dry or air clothes on fireguards.
• Shut all doors at night. This prevents any fire from spreading.
• Store matches away from children. Teach older children how to use matches correctly and safely. Do not just let them experiment and find out for themselves.
• Have a fire blanket in the kitchen.
• Do not leave chip pans unattended, and they should never be more than a third full with oil.

Preventing sunburn

• Keep children out of hot sun, particularly between 11am and 3pm.
• When out in the sun remember: Slip, Slap, Slop - slip on a shirt, slap on a hat, and slop on some high protection sunscreen.

© EMIS and PIP 2006 Updated: June 2006 PRODIGY Validated

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