Feature Story

How to avoid scalding a child

Advice from the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center

February 2015

Forty percent of all scald injuries in the U.S. are suffered by children aged 0-4, and those scalds represent two-thirds of the burn injuries suffered by young children, according to the National Scald Prevention Campaign, 2014.

Here are some tips from the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Health Care to help avoid scalds to young people:

How to treat a scald

Most scalds should be treated by a medical professional, with the exception of burns smaller than a quarter. “Treat with cool water for 3 to 5 minutes and wrap in a clean, dry gauze dressing,” says Ernest Grant, RN, MSN, FAAN, outreach coordinator, at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill. “Do not apply ice to the burn area, as this may also cause further tissue damage or a frost bite injury. Ointments, creams or solvents shouldn’t be applied as they hold the heat in the tissue and makes the injury deeper.”

If a blister appears, don’t pop it. Instead, watch the area for signs of an infection for two or three days after the scald. Seek medical attention if there is any redness extending beyond the border of the wound or if there is extreme pain.

DO:

Supervise children when in the bath or kitchen.
Place pots and pans on the back burner with handles turned away from the edge of the stove.
Establish a “kid-free” zone in the kitchen — mark off an area at least three feet in front of the stove. If that’s not possible, cook on back burners and keep pot handles turned away from the edge so kids can’t pull them over.
Never hold children while cooking, drinking a hot beverage or carrying hot foods.
Teach children to open microwaved foods carefully, opening away from them so steam releases safely. Always allow microwaved foods to cool before eating.
Never heat a baby bottle in the microwave.
Place hot liquids and foods in the center of the table where toddlers and young children can’t reach them.
Install anti-scald valves in the showerhead to automatically turn off the flow if the cold water is turned off while the hot water is on, and put tempering valves on faucets to keep the water temperature constant.
Verify that your water heater is set no higher than 120 degrees F (48 degrees C) or just below the medium setting.
Install single faucet handles in tubs and bathroom sinks.
Test the temperature of the water by running your hands through the bath water before placing a child, or helping a child, into a bath.

Don’t:

Leave a child unattended in the bathtub; if you must leave, take the child or children with you.
Allow young children to adjust the water temperature, and when bathing young children, seat the child away from faucets.
Set anything hot on tablecloths or placemats, as young children can pull them down.
Allow appliance cords (slow cookers, deep fryers) to dangle over the counter edge.