Return to Main Menu

Safety tips for preventing burns Scald burns from hot liquid or steam are the most common type of burns among children 4 and under. A child will suffer a full-thickness burn (third-degree burn) after just three seconds of exposure to 140-degree water, and will need surgery and skin grafts. As the holiday season approaches, Safe Kids Trident Area reminds parents and caregivers to check the kitchen for preventable hazards and also to supervise children at all times in the kitchen. Never leave a hot stove unattended. This is the number one cause of home fires. Never hold a child while cooking or carrying hot items. Cook on back burners whenever possible, and turn all handles toward the back of the stove. Don’t allow loose-fitting clothing in the kitchen. Keep hot foods and liquids away from the edges of counters and tables. Be especially careful around tablecloths—children can pull hot dishes down onto themselves.   Children who can follow directions may be ready to help out in the kitchen with tasks that do not involve knives, appliances or heat. “You know your own children. Don’t give them knives or let them handle anything hot until they have shown the maturity and coordination to do it safely,” said Amy Ethridge,  Safe Kids Trident Area coordinator. “Some children mature faster than others, so it’s up to parents to use good judgment about each child’s capabilities.”   For more information about kitchen safety and burn prevention, call Ethridge at 792-5327 or visit http://www.safekids.org for a copy of the new video “Smart Parents, Safe Kids” with more tips on making your kitchen safer.   For more information about preventing or treating burn injuries, contact Jill Evans, MUSC Children’s Hospital pediatric burn coordinator, e-mail evansj@musc.edu or call 792-3852.   Safe Kids Trident Area works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under. Its members include organizations, businesses and individuals from Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Safe Kids Trident Area is led by MUSC Children’s Hospital and is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury.  Editor's note: The Wellness Column, a column featured in The Catalyst, is presented by the MUSC Employee Wellness Committee. The TEAM MUSC visual highlights a team approach to health and wellness. Its goal is to keep MUSC employees, staff, faculty and students informed about wellness opportunities available as well as provide the latest health and wellness tips.   Friday, Dec. 2, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.