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Preventing Burns

4 December 2024

Hot liquids, hot drinks, hot pots, boiling water, hot water appliances, and kettles pose a risk for infants and children. Each year, thousands of children arrive in emergency rooms and hospital rooms with severe and painful burns that can be prevented. The majority of burned individuals are infants, primarily under the age of four, and most injuries occur at home due to exposure to hot liquids.

For babies, burns can cause extremely severe injuries as their skin is very thin. What might cause only inconvenience for an adult can lead to greater damage for babies, such as extended periods of hospitalization, of weeks or even months, and possibly surgeries. Furthermore, burns may leave scars.

What can we do? You can prevent the the next burn by following safety rules while cooking in selecting and using heating appliances, placing hot appliances, utensils, and dishes in the living room, and bathing.

Treating burns

  1. Move the child away from the source of the heat.
  2. Rinse the affected area with lukewarm running water.
  3. If there is redness or other signs, seek medical attention.
  4. Avoid applying ice, yogurt, or any other substances, as it may lead to infection.
  5. If there is redness, seek medical assistance promptly to diagnose the burn and provide appropriate medical care.
  6. In the event of loss of consciousness, call Magen David Adom at call center 101 and follow their instructions.

We all use fire (for cooking, boiling water, etc.), drink hot beverages and use heating appliances. While fire has significant benefits in daily life, it may also cause damage, primarily burns. Burns are the most frequent injuries among infants and children, especially at a young age. Each year, thousands of children arrive in emergency rooms and hospital rooms with severe and painful burns that can be prevented. Additionally, many burns go unreported. The majority of burned individuals are infants, usually under the age of four.

Burns damages

For babies, burns can cause extremely severe injuries as their skin is very thin. What might cause only inconvenience for an adult can harm babies severely, necessitate extended periods of hospitalization, of weeks or even months, require surgeries, and possibly leave serious scars.

Reasons for burns

Burns can result from many things, such as adults overlooking the potential danger of leaving a cup of coffee within a child's reach. Additionally, children, driven by natural curiosity, may not fully grasp the risks associated with their activities, and it makes many items potentially hazardous for them. Most children who suffer burns are hurt at home, with the majority of burns occurring in the kitchen area. The primary cause of burns in children brought to an emergency room and admitted to a hospital is spilled hot liquids, such as a cup of hot drink or a bowl of soup. Other reasons include touching pots that contain hot food, hot water appliances, kettles, radiators, fireplaces with open fire, candles, lighters, and hair dryers. Another significant fact is that 70% of the children admitted due to burns were in close proximity to adults. The issue is not necessarily lack of supervision but rather the importance of prevention and the creation of a safe environment.

A safe home environment can help prevent burns

Adhering to the following principles may help prevent burns. Adopt these habits to ensure a safe environment, whether at the grandparents' house or any other place where the children stay.

  • Place pots on the back burners of the stove.
  • Turn the pot handles toward the wall so that they do not stick out.
  • Allow children to participate in cooking, baking, and heating food, but only under adult supervision.
  • Gradually explain safety rules to children in accordance with their age until they are mature enough to cook safely on their own.

  • Avoid cooking or drinking hot beverages while holding babies: a moment of distraction is enough to cause significant harm. Therefore, refrain from cooking or drinking a hot drink while carrying a baby.
  • Keep hot drinks away from children: ensure that hot drinks and hot food are out of reach of infants and children. Be especially cautious about placing a cup of hot drink on a tablecloth in close proximity to children.
  • Organize the kitchen worktop: keep pots, kettles, hot water appliances, or cups of hot drinks away from the edge of the worktop or table.
  • Avoid using a tablecloth: place dishes at the center of the table and refrain from using a tablecloth that may slip, as children may attempt to pull it. The danger lies in the tablecloth being pulled along with everything on it, posing a risk of burns to children. If you want to protect the table, use placemats away from the edge of the table.
  • Shabbat hot plate and electric cable: place the Shabbat hot plate and electric cable out of reach of children.
  • Detergents: ensure that detergents are out of reach of children to prevent burns by chemical substances.

  • Temperature: before placing the baby in the bath, measure the water temperature. The recommended temperature is 37 degrees Celsius.
  • Water flow: check the water flow before using the shower.
  • Install a device in your home to limit the tap water temperature to 49 degrees Celsius.
  • Faucets are not a game! Do not allow the baby to play with the faucet. When bathing babies in the sink, keep their body away from the faucet so that they do not accidentally turn the water to boiling with their body or hand.
  • Never leave children in the bathroom without adult supervision (even with older siblings who are not adults).

Read here about safe bathing of babies

Securely seat children in a properly adjusted chair, positioned away from pathways where waiters carry hot dishes and food.

Rules and tips for preventing burns

  • Choose to use only products with standard marks that were inspected by the Standards Institution and confirmed by the appropriate authorities.
  • Smoke detector: this inexpensive device may save lives by providing real-time fire alerts and allow sufficient time to escape or extinguish the fire.
  • Candles, matches, and lighters: avoid leaving burning candles, matches or lighters in places accessible to children. Ensure there are no curtains near the stove or close to burning candles.
  • Install outlet covers or child proof outlet plugs.
  • Teach your children to steer clear of electricity, and especially not to climb utility poles.
  • In case of a burning fire: keep children away from the fire and smother it with a cloth.
  • When grilling, supervise children and infants closely.

Safety rules for using domestic heating appliances

  • Avoid using appliances such as electric heaters, gas heaters or blow heaters, as these appliances can be dangerous and may lead to fires and burns. If an appliance has a short electrical cable, refrain from using an extension cord to prevent tripping and potential injuries.
  • Keep heaters away from congestible items, such as curtains, sofas, and blankets. Read more about safe heating and cooling of the baby's room.
  • Fireplace: if you use a fireplace at home, install fireplace screens.
  • Air conditioners and radiators: these are safe heating measures, but it is crucial to keep children away and ensure they do not touch a radiator when it is turned on.
  • Heating appliances are intended for heating the room only. Therefore, it is recommended to refrain from drying clothes on them, as this may lead to a fire.

Treatment of burns after an injury

  • Ensure that children are kept at a distance from the heat source, and place the injured organ under lukewarm water.
  • Avoid applying ice, yogurt, or any other substances, as it may lead to infection.
  • If there is redness, seek medical assistance promptly to diagnose the burn and provide appropriate medical care.
  • In the event of loss of consciousness, call Magen David Adom at call center 101 and follow their instructions.

You can prevent the next burn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxc5_W0KwWs