Fire Safety Newsletter – February 2011
TOPIC: Burn Awareness
“Most burn injuries occur in the person’s own home, and the vast majority of these injuries could have easily been prevented.” –American Burn Assoc.
Burn injuries are painful and sometimes require extensive, prolonged treatment. They can result in permanent scarring, and even death. Burn injuries are preventable by simply changing behavior and/or eliminating risks in the home.
To decrease the risk of burns to yourself and your family, follow these tips:
- Set home water heater thermostats no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit/ 48 degrees Celsius
- Provide constant adult supervision to young children in the bathtub
- To prevent scald burns from the faucet, always turn the cold water on first, then add hot water until the desired temperature is reached
- Install grab bars, shower seats, and non-slip mats inside and outside the tub and shower area if used by anyone whose balance is unsteady
- Keep hot liquids, such as coffee, tea, and food on the stove, up high and away from children’s reach
- Keep young children out of the kitchen while cooking, and always use the back burners first, with the handles turned in, to prevent little ones from pulling hot contents down on themselves
The #1 type of burn to young children is a scald (hot liquid) burn. These burns are preventable by just taking a few simple steps towards safe behavior. Although anyone can sustain a scald burn, infants, young children, older adults, and people with disabilities, are at highest risk. These high risk groups are also more likely to need hospitalization as a result of their injury.
Thanks for taking time to be safe!
Casidy Anderson
Community Risk Reduction Officer
Casidy.anderson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
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