Burn Awareness Week 2015

Tips to Avoid Scalds to Children

Scalds, common in the kitchen or bath of every home, are preventable. 40% of all scald injuries are suffered by children aged 0-4, and those scalds represent two-thirds of the burn injuries suffered by young children. (Source: National Scald Prevention Campaign, 2014).

Here are some tips from the N.C. Jaycee Burn Center to help avoid scalds to young people:

Do:

• Supervise children when in the bath or kitchen.
• Place pots and pans on the back burner with handles turned away from the edge of the stove.
• Establish a “kid-free” zone in the kitchen – mark off an area at least three feet in front of the stove. If that’s not possible, cook on back burners and keep pot handles turned away from the edge so kids can’t pull them over.
• Never hold children while cooking, drinking a hot beverage or carrying hot foods.
• Teach children to open microwaved foods carefully, opening away from them so steam releases safely. Always allow microwaved foods to cool before eating.
• Never heat a baby bottle in the microwave.
• Place hot liquids and foods in the center of the table where toddlers and young children can’t reach them.
• Install anti-scald valves in the showerhead to automatically turn off the flow if the cold water is turned off while the hot water is on, and put tempering valves on faucets to keep the water temperature constant.
• Verify that your water heater is set no higher than 120^oF/48^o C or just below the medium setting.
• Install single faucet handles in tubs and bathroom sinks.
• Test the temperature of the by running your hands through the bath water before placing a child, or help a child, in a bath.

Don’t:

• Leave a child unattended in the bathtub; if you must leave, take the child(ren) with you.
• Allow young children to adjust the water temperature, and when bathing young children, seat the child away from faucets.
• Set anything hot on tablecloths or placemats, as young children can pull them down.
• Allow appliance cords (slow-cookers, deep-fryers) to dangle over the counter edge.

Facts:

• The average annual cost of scald injuries is $44 million.
• Over 136,000 children were seen in emergency rooms for burn in 2011.
• 1,100 children die each year from fire and burns.

Burn Awareness Week: How to Treat a Scald

Most scalds should be treated by a medical professional, with the exception of burns smaller than a quarter. “Treat with cool water for 3 to 5 minutes and wrap in a clean dry gauze dressing,” explains Ernest Grant, RN, MSN, FAAN, outreach coordinator, at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill. “Do not apply ice to the burn area, as this may also cause further tissue damage or a frost bite injury. Ointments, creams or solvents shouldn’t be applied as they hold the heat in the tissue and makes the injury deeper.” And if a blister appears, don’t pop it. Instead, watch the area for signs of an infection for two or three days after the scald. Seek medical attention if there is any redness extending beyond the border of the wound or if there is extreme pain.

Tips to Help Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities Avoid Scalds, Fires in the Kitchen, and Burn Injury

The kitchen is a common place for scalding, and the top location for house fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association: 42 percent of house fires start in the kitchen, and 38 percent of burn injuries related to fire occur here. That’s because we often leave cooking items unattended, forget to turn off the stove or oven, cook on the front burners or mishandle grease fires.

Here are some tips from the N.C. Jaycee Burn Center to help seniors avoid scalds and burns in the kitchen:

Do:

• Use long oven mitts, not towels, to handle hot pots and pans.
• Open microwave containers away from you, so the steam doesn’t burn your hands. Allow microwaved food to cool properly before eating. Stir and test the food before serving to make sure it is cool enough to eat to avoid scalding your mouth or tongue.
• Put out a grease fire by turning off the burner and gently sliding a lid or other cover like a flat cookie sheet over the pan—do not put water on it. Leave covered for at least 20 minutes or until cool.
• Do not leave items unattended while cooking. If you must step out of the kitchen, set the oven timer for a minute or two so you don’t forget to check on things.
• Make sure your water heater is set no higher than120^oF/48^o C or just below the medium setting.
• Make sure smoke alarms are in place on each level of your home and If using an alarm that requires 9-volt batteries replace batteries every six months.
• Have an escape plan if fire breaks out in the home – “two ways out” should always be available.

Don’t:

• Never carry a pan of flaming grease or steaming water through the kitchen. You can trip or lose your footing/hand-hold and spill hot grease on yourself or throw it on someone else.
• Wear clothing with loose or large sleeves while cooking.
• Leave food cooking on the stove unattended.
• Cook when you are sleepy or have taken medications that make you drowsy.
• Ever heat your home using the warmth from a kitchen oven or stove.

Facts:

• Older adults are at higher risk of suffering an injury from burns.
• Adults 65+ years are twice as likely to die in home fires.
• Adults 85+ years are four times more likely to die from a burn injury.

For more scald and fire prevention tips, visit http://www.med.unc.edu/surgery/burn/surgery/burn-programs/outreach1/safety-tips/home-fire-prevention.

For up to date information on scald prevention tips, burn prevention and treatment tips, visit www.med.unc.edu/surgery/burn or “like” the Burn Center on Facebook (www.facebook.com/NorthCarolinaJayceeBurnCenter) or follow on Twitter (@UNCBurnCenter).