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Babies have thinner and softer skin and naturally, burns caused by hot liquids and vapor scald them more deeply and at lower temperature. Water with a temperature above 140° Fahrenheit can cause third-degree burns in a baby in just a few seconds. Infants who can crawl and toddlers like to experiment with things and can just twist open a hot tap water in the bathroom or the sink or may fall in a hot water bath tub while trying to touch it. They may even pry open a thermos flask with hot coffee and let the liquid fall on them in the process, causing severe burns.
One has to be careful while drinking or doing anything with hot liquids such as soups and hot tea near a baby or they may just give the vessel a push with their hands or legs. They can also just try to touch the handles of pots and pans; causing them to tip and the hot contents can scald the baby quite seriously. Here are some tips and ideas on how to prevent burns in kids:
- Annual checkup of heating system is necessary, especially in families with small children to avoid any malfunctioning such as fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Electrical appliances and cords should always be kept out of your kids' reach.
- Keeping fire extinguishers at home that can be easily used and well within your reach at all times ensure greater safety for you and your family.
- Never allow children near space and kerosene heaters, woodstoves, barbecue grills and fireplaces and erect barriers or install child locks, if required to keep them out of the places where they are kept.
- Never place hot liquids near the edge of a table, where your toddler can teach it or from where they may fall easily if a table gets little unbalanced accidentally.
- Never try to hold your baby and carry hot liquids or drink hot tea or coffee.
- People who smoke should be careful never to smoke in bed and dispose of butts and ashes properly and not before they are fully extinguished.
- Smoke detectors warn you in case of any fire or short circuit that may cause your house to burn, so install them for your and your baby’s safety.
- The hot water heater should be set at 120°F to prevent scalding in babies even if they touch it accidentally.
- Using tablecloths is not safe in households with small babies for they can just pull the cloth and make everything kept on it to fall including hot liquids kept on the table.
- While cooking, never allow the children in the kitchen. Naughty children can be made to sit on a high chair while toddlers may be made to sit away from the stove with handles of pots and pans turned away from them.
- While traveling outdoors, be sure to cover young infants with hats and shades and keep them out of direct sunlight. If necessary, use sunscreen.