Nothing concerns parents more than keeping their children safe. However, parents can’t be everywhere at once. Many often have nightmares about losing track of their kids and finding them in dire situations. Children are also at risk of injury because they’re unsure of the safety risks of various things and situations. For example, incredibly young children who have never encountered a stove or oven might accidentally touch the edge of one out of curiosity, only to experience first-hand why caution is needed. However, taking care to keep children out of harm’s way can prevent them from having to suffer severe burns, which can be incredibly painful and may require skin grafts if they are too damaging. Here are a few ways to prevent your child from a fire or burn risks.
Reducing Water Temperature
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if bath water is too hot for the child without testing it yourself. You can avoid this by setting the thermostat on your hot water heater to below 120° F. Bath water should be around 100° F. Before putting your child in the bath, test it first yourself.
Choose Fire-Resistant Fabrics
Before federal standards were established, some clothing for children was made with cheaper and highly flammable materials. The Flammable Fabrics Act was passed in 1953 after a series of tragic deaths in the 1940s involving children who were wearing long rayon pile clothing. Make sure than any clothes or mattress you buy for your kids meet federal flammability standards by checking the labels.
Always Be Aware of Hot Liquids
It’s never a good idea to cook, drink, or carry a hot beverage or food item when concurrently carrying a child. Likewise, it’s wise to keep hot items away from the table or counter edges in case they get knocked over onto the floor, where the child may be located. Tablecloths and placemats can also be dangerous, as children can reach up and tug on them, dislodging whatever may be resting on the table. When cooking, make sure to turn the handles of your cookware toward the rear of the stove and use back burners when possible. This will prevent anyone passing by from accidentally knocking it off the stove.
Keep Hot Devices Away
Things that easily get hot, such as irons, curling irons, or stove lighters, should be kept out of reach of children. Keep them in a locked location or in a place a curious child can’t reach, such as a high cupboard or high drawer with child-safety locks in place. Likewise, if you’re using any hot item, ensure it stays out of the reach of a child. This precaution goes double for hot items attached to a plug, which a child can tug on.
Block Access to Dangerous Locations
If you’re worried about your child being burned on the stove, block their access to the device. Fireplaces, space heaters, and radiators should all be blocked from child access. If you have no way of establishing boundaries in your home that would prevent a child from entering these areas, children should never be left unattended if those areas are in use. For example, if the fireplace is in use and there is no boundary preventing the child from accessing it, they should never be more than an arm’s length away from a supervising adult.
Test Food Temperature
Before feeding your kid hot food or liquid, always take care to try it yourself first. This is particularly important in microwaved items, which can heat up unevenly. A baby’s bottle should also be warmed on the stove top, not by microwave, to prevent this kind of potential burn.
Check Car Seats
Getting back into the car after a hot day can feel like sitting in an oven. If you’ve ever burnt yourself on a heated steering wheel, you understand how dangerous the car can get in the heat. Car seats and belt buckles can get hot enough to cause 2nd-degree burns. Make sure to check that no part of the car seat in reach of the child will cause him or her any harm.
Use a Cool-Mist Humidifier or Vaporizer
If you need a humidifier or vaporizer, try choosing one that uses cool mist. Ones requiring hot water have the potential to cause steam burns and create a hot-water spill hazard.
Lock Up Dangerous Materials
Candles, cigarettes, and flammable liquids should be kept locked away and out of the reach of children. Additionally, cleaning materials that could cause chemical burns should be held in a child-proofed cabinet or drawer. While most contemporary cleaning products have childproof lids, if one is closed improperly a child could accidentally spill or even drink harmful chemical products.
Make sure to protect your child from potential burn risks. However, if your child has been put at risk or was harmed by the negligence of someone else, don’t pay for their mistake. Medical bills can be extremely high, and severe burns could cause someone pain and distress for the rest of their lives. If someone’s carelessness has contributed to your or your loved one’s suffering, don’t hesitate to call us. Our Atlanta personal injury attorneys can help. We have more than 75 years of collective legal experience we can put to use in your case. Our firm is also recognized by our peers for providing excellent service to victims and their families. Let us see what we can do for you. Contact us at (888) 425-6070 or fill out our online form to schedule a case consultation today.