SCALDS

- Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire - Scalds in the Kitchen - Tap Water Scald Burns - Microwave Scalds Print This Page

HOT LIQUIDS BURN LIKE FIRE (Return to Top)

The two highest risk populations are children under the age of 5 and adults over 65.

SCALDS IN THE KITCHEN (Return to Top)

How to prevent injury from hot foods and beverages:

• Continuous and adequate supervision of children in the kitchen is of prime importance.
• Control a child's activity while he/she is in the kitchen and when food is being prepared. High chairs, feeding tables, etc. can control children and allow supervision during daily kitchen activities.
• Keep children out of the traffic path and check for their location before moving any hot liquids in the kitchen.
• Keep all hot liquids at a safe distance from children.
• Take time to fix meals without rushing.
• Keep pot handles turned toward the back of the stove. Cook on rear burners when possible.
• Test all heated liquid/food before giving it to a child or placing it within his/her reach.
• Remove tablecloths when toddlers are present in the home. They tug and pull on everything within their reach. Hot liquids can easily be pulled down on them.
• Never hold a child while drinking a hot liquid.
• Purchase appliances with short cords, and keep all cords from dangling over the edge of counters, i.e., slow cookers, coffee pots, fat fryers, and anything that could contain hot liquids.
• Periodically check all handle on appliances and cooking utensils to insure handles are tightly fastened.
• Consider making a "SAFE ZONE" in front of the kitchen stove. Teach children to remain out of this zone.
• Use caution when moving heavy pots of hot liquids from the stove.
• Children should not be allowed to use a cooking/heating appliance until they are mature enough to understand safe-use procedures and tall enough to safely reach cooking surfaces and handle hot items.
• Avoid using area rugs in the kitchen, especially near the stove. They can cause falls and scalds.
• Be sure to inform babysitters about kitchen and appliance safety and teach them to prevent burn injuries when preparing meals.

TAP WATER SCALD BURNS (Return to Top)

Each year, several thousand children and older adults are burned by tap water because the water was too hot. Hot water can cause a serious burn - quickly. Very young, handicapped, and elderly people are particularly vulnerable to tap water burns. Children cannot always tell the hot from the cold water faucets. Elderly and handicapped persons are less agile and more prone to falls in the bathtub. And they may have less ability to sense when the water is too hot. Supervision is the single most important factor in preventing scalds.

• Supervise children and older people in bathtubs. Young children are able to turn on the hot water by themselves. Elderly or handicapped people are prone to falling. Install grab bars, shower seats or non-slip flooring in tubs or showers if the person is unsteady or weak. They should never be left alone in the tub, even for a moment. Always test their bath water: it should not be over 100 degrees.
• Adjust the thermostat setting on your water heater to produce a temperature or 120 degrees F or less. The lower the temperature, the lower the risk (Your clothes and dishes will get clean at this setting). If you rent, ask your landlord to lower the water temperature. Wait a full day to allow the water temperature to change, then re-test the water.
• Before placing a child into the bathtub, check the temperature of the water by moving your hand through the water for a few seconds. If the water feels hot, it is too hot for the child.
• Run cold water into the tub first, then add hot water to reach a safe temperature. This will prevent a scald burn if someone should fall into the tub while it is being filled.
• Face the child away from the faucets and keep them closer to the other end of the tub (away from the faucets).
• Use extreme caution when bathing small children in the sink. Many sinks still have single-lever faucets which are easy for young children to turn on.
• Consider installing "anti-scald" or tempering devices on tub and shower heads to prevent accidental scalds. These heat sensitive instruments stop or interrupt the flow of water when the temperature reaches a pre-determined level and prevent hot water that is too hot from coming out of the tap.

MICROWAVE SCALDS (Return to Top)

Many people do not fully appreciate or understand how microwaves heat food, the fact that a container may not be hot may mislead someone to assume that the food itself is not really hot, and a burn injury results.

• When using a microwave oven, read and follow the directions for the operation of the microwave oven. The specific directions associated with heating prepared or packaged food are equally important to follow.
• Be sure everyone in the home is aware of the risks associated with microwave ovens. As a general rule, only those who have read and understand the directions should use the microwave oven.
• Microwave ovens vary in power. Determine safe heating times and energy settings for your microwave.
• Be careful when removing coverings or lids from micro-waved foods. Hot steam escaping from the container as the cover is lifted can cause a scald injury. Steam, reaching over 200 degrees F, builds up rapidly in covered containers and can easily result in burns to the face, arms and hands. When removing covers, lift the corner farthest from you and away from your face or arm.
• Puncture plastic wrap before heating foods in the microwave.
• Stir foods to distribute the heat. Many microwaves have a tendency to heat from the outside edge toward the middle. This can produce very hot food on the edge and cold food in the middle.
• Cooking eggs in the microwave can result in scald burns unless specific precautions are taken. Check the microwave oven manual for specific instructions on cooking eggs, squash, potatoes and eggplant.
• Heating baby formula in a microwave is a dangerous practice and could result in a scald to the baby's mouth or throat. Even though a bottle might not feel warm to the touch after it has been micro-waved briefly, there may be hot spots within the formula. Hot spots are places where the microwaves have reached first or more efficiently, producing uneven heating.
• Follow microwave guidelines on baby formulas, baby food jars, plastic bottles, and plastic bottle liners. Remember, not all foods can be heated in a microwave oven. Some manufacturers caution against heating their products in the microwave oven.
• Keep all hot liquids out of children's reach, and keep children away from the microwave and other heating appliances when removing hot foods.
• Babysitters, grandparents and other caregivers should be instructed in using your microwave oven before they prepare food or drinks for young children.
• When heating foods for a young child, check the temperature by sampling the food before allowing the child to eat it.
• Be sure children are old enough to understand the safe use of the microwave oven before allowing them to heat foods. Children still need adult supervision and help to follow product directions.
• Children should be tall enough to reach the oven and handle foods safely.

The safety information enclosed was compiled from the best sources available to us. The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance and authors cannot assume any liability for its effectiveness in every emergency situation.