Burn Awareness Week: Children at risk from burns, scalds
- EFN Staff | February 04, 2015
During Burn Awareness Week (February 1 – 7, 2015), the Saskatoon Fire Department reminds parents and those responsible for young children that a child’s skin is especially susceptible to burns and scalds and we need to take extra precautions to protect them.
Statistics Canada reports that in 2010/2011, 346 children aged 0-4 and 59 children aged 5-9 were admitted to hospital as a result of a burn and that burns were the leading cause of hospital admissions from injury for children aged 0-4.
Children are particularly at risk of scalds because their skin is thinner and more sensitive. A child’s skin can burn four times quicker and more deeply than an adult’s.
Some safety tips to decrease the number of burns and scalds to children are:
- Set your water heater to 49°C (120°F). Water heated to 60°C (140°F) can cause a third-degree burn on a child’s skin in just one second.
- Use a travel mug with a tight-fitting lid when drinking hot liquid like coffee or tea.
- Cook on the back burners of your stove and turn the handles of pots and pans inwards.
- Ensure cords from appliances like slow-cookers or kettles are not within a child’s reach.
- Place a safety gate around your fireplace. The gas fireplace’s glass barrier can heat up to over 200°C (400°F) in about six minutes and when switched off, take about 45 minutes to cool to a safe temperature. For young children just learning to walk this is a significant risk.
- Install a smoke detector and test it every month to protect your family and home from fire and smoke.
Burns and/or scalds often happen in a split second but the consequences are long term. A child’s natural curiosity and sensitive skin makes them vulnerable. We need to do what we can to make sure they stay safe.