National Burn Awareness Week,
February 4 - 10, Draws Attention to Young Children Being at High Risk
for Burn Injuries
JEFFERSON CITY, February 7, 2007-State Fire Marshal
Randy Cole reminds Missourians about National Burn Awareness Week
and said burns and scalds can be deadly, especially to children under
the age of five. Nationally, 600 children die and another 100,000
children are treated for burn-related injuries annually.
“Young children have thinner skin and burns more
deeply and quickly. In a matter of seconds, children can sustain devastating
physical and emotional injury”, Cole said. “Kitchens and
bathrooms can be the most deadly area of your home, especially for
children and close supervision is the key.”
The Office of the State Fire Marshal joins with the
National Association of State Fire Marshals, the Shriners International,
and other related organizations to recognize National Burn Awareness
Week as an opportunity to offer these burn prevention tips:
• When cooking, use back burners when possible
and keep pot handles turned to the inside so they don’t stick
out over the front of the stove. If left within reach, a curious child
might grab or tip the pot over onto them.
• Electrical cords for cooking appliances should be kept away
from counter edges. This will prevent a child from pulling appliances
off counter-tops and onto them.
• Test bath water before putting your child into the bathtub.
Children can be scalded by bath water in only a few seconds. Set your
water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below and always provide
supervision.
• Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.
• Burns should be treated by running cool water over the burned
area within the first few minutes of injury.
• Smoke alarms should be installed on every level and in every
sleeping area of your home. Test them once a month and replace batteries
when necessary. Working smoke alarms provide early warning detection
allowing more time to escape a fire. Newer smoke alarm technology
is available with voice recording capabilities to alarm young children
of fire, providing a better chance of awakening them in the event
of fire.
“Fires don’t always happen to the people
next door. In less than three minutes, your home could be totally
involved in fire and it’s important that everyone reacts quickly
and calmly to escape,” Cole said.
A home escape plan should be developed identifying two
ways out of each room, a meeting place outside, and a way to contact
the fire department once you are outside. Practice the plan regularly,
at least annually, to make sure that everyone knows what to do when
the smoke alarm sounds.