Kidsafe
Everything You Need To Know About Burns and Scalds
What is dangerous about burns and scalds?
Some Safety Concerns to Keep in Mind
~Hot drinks, cooking oils and foods are the most common causes of admissions into hospitals due to burns and/or scalds.
~Home heaters, fires, BBQs and irons are the leading causes of burns.
~Scalding injuries occur mainly due to children spilling hot drinks onto themselves.
~Hot water burns like fire! Water at 60 degrees takes one second to fatally scald a child.
Top 10 Safety Rules to Follow to Prevent Burns or Scalds
~Keep hot drinks out of reach
~Closely supervise children around BBQs
~Keep children out of the kitchen when preparing meals
~Install safety guards around heaters and fires
~Make sure saucepan/pot handles are out of reach of children
~Always test the water temperature before bathing a child (nothing over 38 degrees)
~Avoid nursing a child if you're holding a hot drink
~When running a bath always turn cold water on first and turn it off last
~If your child gets burnt remove all clothes if possible - Clothing holds heat and can cause a deeper burn
~Control the water temperature in hot taps to a maximum of 50 degrees