Of the many types of burns that can happen in your home, burns which are due to hot liquids or gasses, otherwise known as scalds, may be the most difficult to prevent. Thousands of people are injured each year by hot liquids and many of them are young children, due to accidents. Here are some simple precautions can protect you and your family from scalding burns:
- Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees.
- Always test bath water before placing a child in the tub.
- Never leave a child unattended in the bathtub.
- Turn pot handles toward the back or center of the stove so children cannot tip pots over.
- Never warm baby bottles in the microwave; they may heat unevenly and can burn your baby’s mouth.
- Use caution when opening items such as microwave popcorn bags, food items, etc…
- Leave lids on containers loose or ajar (not sealed) when microwaving items.
- Use mugs or coffee cups with lids when you are around children.
- Keep hot liquids like soup, coffee, or tea away from the edge of counters and tables.
What to do if you are burned:
- Immediately place burned body part in cool water.
- Do not place ice on the burn.
- Do not apply lotions, ointments, or any other topical applications on the burn.
- Change cool water frequently and keep submerged for thirty to ninety minutes until all burning sensation has ceased. This may prevent blistering and scarring by removing all heat.
- If burned area is larger than the size of a quarter, on a sensitive area, or on the face, see your doctor immediately.