In the United States, another burn injury occurs every 32 minutes. A scald is a burn injury caused by hot fluid or gas, and it is the most common type of burn injury among young children.
Because of their sensitive skin, children and the elderly are more likely to suffer from serious scald injuries. People with diabetes may be more prone to scald injuries because of loss of sensation in the skin. Disabled people are also more likely to suffer scalds. Scald injuries often occur in nursing homes when caretakers become distracted.
Scalding accounts for approximately 100,000 injuries and 35 deaths each year.
Here are some scalding burn injury prevention tips to help you keep the children and others in your home safe:
Never leave young children at home alone.
Make sure your water heater thermostat is set at 120 degrees F or lower. If you have children in your home, you may want to lower it to 110. Lowering the temperature will decrease the risk of injury from scalding water. Around 5,000 children are scalded each year, and most of those injuries occur in the bathtub.
Teach children about safety in the kitchen. Keep young children away from the stove when you’re cooking. If you have trouble keeping them out of the kitchen, set up baby gates or some other kind of barrier.
Always turn handles toward the back of the stove while cooking. Keep kitchen appliances and other heat-producing appliances out of the reach of children.
Do not place hot liquids or foods near the edge of counters.
Always use oven mitts when handling hot cookware.
Be careful when lifting lids off of cookware. Hot steam may escape and scald the skin.
Test heated foods before giving them to children.
Do not heat baby bottles or baby food in a microwave. Microwaves may heat unevenly. If even you test the food first, there may be a hidden hot spot.
Keep walking obstructions out of the kitchen. Clean up any spills immediately.
When filling a bath for a child, start with cold water, and then add warm water.
Face children away from faucets in the bathtub.
Never leave children along in the bathroom.
Use child-proof knob covers on the bathtub faucets.
Consider installing anti-scald plumbing like anti-scald faucets and shower heads.
Sometimes burn and scald injuries are caused by carelessness, recklessness, or deliberate behavior. For example, a hotel or apartment complex may set the water heater temperature too high. In these cases, victims may be entitled to recovery for damages.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a scald injury or another burn injury caused by negligence, carelessness, or a defective product, call Atlanta personal injury lawyer Michael Neff. Call 404-531-9700 to schedule your free consultation.