‘You don’t imagine that would happen to you;’ Experts share tips on preventing scalding burns

WHIO Staff
·3 min read
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Burn-related injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury in America.

Shriners Children’s Ohio, a pediatric healthcare system for burn care, says almost one out of three burn victims are children under the age of 15.

In 2022, around 40 percent of all new burns treated at Shriner’s Dayton hospital were scalds, a burn, or other injuries caused by hot liquid or steam.

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Shriner’s Chief of staff Dr. Pentra Warner told us, “you don’t imagine that would happen to you. You hear about it with other people but you think oh that’s not going to happen I’m safe. It’s the simple things in life that can surprise you.”

This week is Burn Awareness Week, and Shriners wants to share some tips for parents to help prevent and protect their children from burns.

Be Safe in the Kitchen:

  • Never leave the kitchen while cooking. If you have to leave the room, take your children with you and watch them at all times.

  • Establish a “kid-free zone” 3 feet around the stove and all areas where food and drink are prepared.

  • Cook with pots on back burners and turn handles in.

  • Test heated foods and liquids before serving them to children.

  • Do not cook or carry hot items while holding a child.

  • Keep hot items away from the edges of counters or tables.

  • Use placemats instead of tablecloths. A tablecloth can be hazardous if a young child pulls on it while hot food is on the table.

  • Never allow children to handle microwaved containers until they have cooled off enough to be touched and remind them to open food slowly.

  • Remind children that foods and liquids heated in the microwave may be much hotter than their containers.

  • Microwave popcorn bags should never be opened right away; steam released from the bag can cause a burn in seconds.

Be Safe in the Bathroom:

  • Set the water heater temperature no hotter than 120°F.

  • When filling the bathtub, run cold water first.

  • Always test bathwater with your wrist or elbow before placing a child into the tub.

  • If possible, install anti-scald devices on water faucets and shower heads, which will automatically shut off the water if the temperature becomes too hot.

  • Face a child in the bathtub away from faucets.

  • Never leave children alone in the bathtub.

  • Use knob covers on faucets, so children are unable to manipulate the faucet and turn it on themselves.

How to Treat a Scald Burn:

  • Immediately remove the child from the heat source.

  • Remove any clothing from the area that has been burned. Do not attempt to remove clothing or anything else stuck to their skin.

  • Run cool water over the burn to help decrease the pain.

  • Apply a gauze bandage or place a clean, soft cloth or towel over the burn. Do not wrap the burn tightly; instead, cover it loosely.

  • Do not apply any ointments, butter, sprays, or other treatments to the burned area. They can make it worse.

  • If you see blisters in the burned area, do not break them.

  • Do not put ice on a burn.