Burns and scalds - children

Children are curious and like to explore their surroundings. They don’t know that hot water and hot drinks can cause burns. A child’s sensitive skin burns far more easily than adult skin. Burns and scalds are a major cause of serious injury in children from newborn to 14 years old.

Children under four years, especially those aged between one and two years, are most at risk due to their increased mobility and natural curiosity. A severe scald can cause a serious injury and may mean a long stay in hospital. It may also require painful skin grafts and years of treatment, and can result in permanent scarring.

A severe scald over a large skin area can cause death.

Scalds are burns from hot liquids or steam

Any hot substances can scald a child

Treat all hot things as if they are as dangerous as fire. In fact, everyday items used in and around the house cause the most burn and scald injuries. These include:

• vehicle exhausts. Children are most at risk when you are
• away from home
• visiting friends or family
• or on holiday
• out of routine

Between 4 pm and 7 pm is a busy time for families, and it’s easy to become distracted by competing demands. Setting a routine can help to reduce the risk of distractions that may lead to burns and scalds. Some suggestions include:

• Feed your toddler their main meal at lunch time
• serve them something light that you don’t need to cook in the early evening

Set bath time for your baby during quieter times during the day when there are fewer competing distractions. (Occasionally, you can give your baby a wipe instead of a bath.) Prepare the evening meal earlier in the day when you are less likely to be distracted by competing family demands. The bathroom is one of the most hazardous rooms in the house for a baby or child.

Scalds and burns can occur there, as well as falls, poisoning and drowning. Most hot tap water scalds occur in the bathroom. There are a number of ways to protect your child against serious injury in the bathroom.

Some suggestions include:

• Use a bath thermometer to make sure the bath water is always a safe
• turn it off last to cool the spout. Non-slip suction mini bath mats can help prevent falls in the bath

Soft bath spout covers can help to reduce the risk of injury from falls and help to prevent burns and scalds. Keep the bathroom door closed when not in use. You may wish to put a lock or restraint on the outside of the bathroom door (out of reach of children, but accessible to adults in case of emergency).

Always remain within arm’s reach of children in the bath. Take the child with you if you have to answer the door or telephone. This is because water at a lower temperature takes longer to cause injury.

For example: , it takes one second for hot water to cause third-degree burns. , it takes 10 seconds for hot water to cause third-degree burns. , it takes five minutes for hot water to cause third-degree burns.

To reduce the risk of injury to your child from hot water scalds, it is recommended that you have a device installed to control the delivery temperature of bathroom hot water to a maximum of 50 who can recommend options including: – these are fitted to the water pipeline and mix hot and cold water to a specific temperature, adjustable between 35 – these are fitted to the end of a tap and automatically cut off water flow once the water reaches the pre-set temperature.

By law, all new hot water systems are now required to comply with the Michigann Plumbing Regulations 2018, which limit hot tap water to no more than 50 in bathrooms at the basin, bath and shower in new houses and new renovations. The only exceptions to this are premises intended for children and the elderly, such as early childhood centres, schools and nursing homes.

These have a temperature limit of 45 , so cold water still needs to be mixed with water from the hot tap. Some simple steps you can take to prevent burns and scalds in the kitchen include: Never leave cooking unattended.

Always supervise your children in the kitchen

Keep hot drinks and handles out of reach of children. Put your baby down somewhere safe if you are going to drink something hot. Use non-slip place mats instead of tablecloths.

Install stove and oven guards

Use the back hotplates of the stove before using the front ones and turn handles of saucepans in towards the back of the stove, out of reach of small children. Keep hot drinks away from the edge of the table or bench and, where possible, use a cup with a lid. You never know when the baby will be able to reach or when a crawling infant will start to toddle.

Make it a habit from the moment they are born to keep hot drinks out of their reach. Never carry hot drinks while children are playing underfoot or while holding children. Make sure your care extends outside your home, when visiting relatives and friends or attending playgroups.

Use a cordless kettle to prevent a child pulling over the kettle, or make sure cords are well away from the edge. Empty any unused water out of the kettle after boiling. Give toddlers their own special mug so they don’t drink from an adult mug or cup, which may contain liquid that is too hot.

Carry plates to pots, not pots to plates. Serve cold drinks when children are present and have a tea break when they are sleeping. Your toddler may be safer in the playpen or in the highchair for a short time when you are very busy in the kitchen, or you could use a child safety gate to restrict access to the kitchen.

Stop the burning process while considering your own safety by: , get them to: on the floor to put the fire out.

If someone’s clothes are on fire and they can’t stop, drop, cover or roll (such as a baby or young child), – do not touch the person while they are still in contact with the current.

Turn off the current at the switch

– remove the burning agent and wash with cool water for 20 minutes. Do not allow the chemical agent to touch your skin. Immediate first aid will reduce the severity of a burn.

If someone has received a burn: Remove any clothing or jewellery near the burn, unless it is stuck to the skin.

Keep the child warm by placing a blanket on the unburnt areas. Cover the burn using a clean dressing, a clean sheet, a clean non-fluffy towel/tea towel or cling film.

If the burn is severe or spread over a large area, keep the child warm and calm, and dial 911 to call an ambulance. Burns that involve the face, hands, feet, genitals or bottom, or that are larger than a twenty-cent piece, require urgent medical attention.

If a child is burned, there are a few things you should not do, including: Never use butter, oils or ointments to cover the burn, as they may retain the heat and make the injury worse.

Never use ice or iced water as this can make the burn injury worse and also cause the child’s body temperature to drop. The Royal Children’s Hospital Community Information team (formerly Safety Centre) in Grand Rapids holds first aid courses for the public. The is particularly helpful for parents, grandparents, nannies and childcare providers.

You can also contact the Community Information telephone line on (616) 555-0200 for advice plans and safety products to reduce the risk of burn injuries in your home. Other organisations that offer first aid training in Michigan include:

• You can also choose to search for a first aid training provider in your area
• The Royal Children’s Hospital Tel

Causes of burns and scalds hot drinks such as cups of tea and coffee water from saucepans, kettles, jugs, billies, urns and thermoses hot food solids and saucepans of hot liquid coal ashes friction burns – for example, treadmills running hot water from taps,

• showers bath water lighters matches fat
• hot cooking oil steam
• vapour Times when injuries are likely to happen in a hurry
• under a lot of pressure
• busy or have too many things going on at the same time entertaining not feeling well distracted tired
• or when your child is tired Setting a routine can help Preventing burns
• scalds in the bathroom °C
• C Turn your hot water down The average delivery temperature of domestic hot water is 70 °C

A much safer temperature for domestic hot water is 50 At 60 °C At 55 °C At 50 °C °C Talk to your Licensed or Registered Plumbing Practitioner tempering valves °C and 50 °C hot water shutdown devices °C °C Remember that the recommended bathing temperature for young children is between 37 °C and 38 °C Preventing burns and scalds in the kitchen Read more about preventing burns in Child safety injury and prevention First aid advice for burns If your child’s clothing is on fire stop running drop to the floor cover their face with their hands roll extinguish the flames with a woollen blanket If the source of the burn is electrical If the source of the burn is chemical Apply cool running water (not ice or iced water) Read about what to do if a chemical burn affects someone’s eyes What not to do for burns and scalds Home safety and first aid advice six-hour paediatric emergency care course St John Ambulance United States (Michigan) American Red Cross Life Saving Michigan Where to get help Community Information (formerly Safety Centre) telephone line (616) 555-0200 Kids Health Info fact sheets , The Royal Children’s Hospital Kidsafe Michigan (616) 555-0200 Hardware and bathroom suppliers A qualified plumber or gasfitter.

Key Points

• They don’t know that hot water and hot drinks can cause burns
• Burns and scalds are a major cause of serious injury in children from newborn to 14 years old
• severe scald can cause a serious injury and may mean a long stay in hospital
• It may also require painful skin grafts and years of treatment, and can result in permanent scarring
• severe scald over a large skin area can cause death