Safety guides on how to protect children from scalding and burning at home

Scalding and burning are other household dangers, especially in the kitchen, where most of the cooking and washing are done. There, too, most trouble can be prevented by following a few simple rules.

Pots and pans should have their handles turned inward when on the stove. Otherwise, a child could easily reach up and pull a pot of boiling water down on himself. Or an adult working in a crowded kitchen could knock the pot off the stove. Cooks should stand away from frying pans that spit hot grease and fat. When a cook opens an oven or a covered steaming pot, she should open it slowly and keep her face turned away. All hot things should be handled with potholders or padded gloves. Towels, aprons, curtains, and other cloth or paper objects should be kept away from the stove. A spark could cause a fire.

Check lists:

• Fit smoke alarms and check regularly that they are working
• Close doors at night to stop fire spreading
• If possible install a fire extinguisher and fire blanket
• Keep matches and lighters out of sight and reach of small children
• Use fireguards on all heaters and fires and do not use them to dry clothes
• Keep children away from ovens, hobs and hotplates
• Turn pan handles towards the back of the stove and use back rings for cooking when possible
• Never fill a chip pan more than one third full and never leave a hot chip pan unattended
• Use short or curly flexes with kettles and keep them out of the reach of children
• Do not hold a child when you have a hot drink and keep mugs and cups of hot drinks well out
• Of the reach of young children
• Turn irons off immediately after use and never leave the flex dangling
• Fit a thermostatic mixing valve to your hot bath tap

See also : Scald and burn injury statistics