Preventing burns at home

Approximately 2.5 million people experience burn injuries in the United states each year. Of this group, 200,000 require outpatient treatment and 100,000 are hospitalized. About 12,000 people die from burns and related inhalation injuries annually. About 40% of burn injuries happens at home. Having awareness and knowledge about prevention of fires and burns can reduce the number of accidents.

Young children and elderly persons are at high risk for burns. Among young children, infants (between age 1 and 3) are more prone for burns at home. This happens because toddlers are very curious and cannot identify the dangers around them. Elderly are prone because of their forgetfulness and poor eye sight. Cooking, heating, or using electrical appliances are usually involved. 75% of the burns that happen at home are because of the victim's own action.

Some of the common burns accident that happens at home are
1. Spilling hot water causing scalds in toddlers.
2. Playing with matches and fireworks in school age.
3. Electrical injury in adolescent males and chemical injury (suicidal attempt) in adolescent females.
4. Drug, alcohol and cigarette use in adults.

Here are some of the concepts through which you can prevent burns and ensure safety at home:

1. If you have an infant, do not carry him or her when you are drinking anything hot or while smoking because the child may turn and get hurt anytime.
2. Do not keep anything hot in their reach. For example: Hot soups, hot pans, hot iron etc
3. Do not let the children play with hair dryers, heating pads, microwave oven or toaster.
4. Never let the children handle stove (both electric or gas).
5. Lock all electric outlets with child safety outlets.
6. Never entertain children to play with match sticks or candles. Do not leave them unattended while they burst fire works or crackers. Make sure they are wearing goggles and shoes while enjoying fire works.
7. Teach them to stop, drop and role when their clothes catch fire.
8. Do not keep any cleaning solutions or any chemicals in their reach.
9. New moms should be careful heating bottles and feeding their newborn. Make sure the liquid is warm to drink. Heating it too high may burn the child's mouth.
10. Double check the gas stove whether they are turned off before going to bed.
11. Set the water heater at 120F, so that it is safe for you and the children at home. Check the temperature of water each time before giving bath for the children.
12. Check whether the smoke detectors are in working condition and change batteries at least once in every 6 months.
13. Build the house with the fire escape plan and learn the fire escape exits if you are living in an apartment.
14. Keep a fire extinguisher and learn how to use them.
15. Avoid smoking in bed.