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Fire not only cause of burn injuries As the president proclaims National Burn Awareness Week (Feb. 5-11), Safe Kids Trident Area reminds parents and caregivers that fire is just one cause of burn injuries—children can also be seriously injured by hot liquids, heating appliances, hot pots and pans, electrical currents and chemicals.   Among all accidental injuries, fire and burns are the number five cause of death in children ages 14 and under—in part because young children cannot recognize heat-related hazards quickly enough to react appropriately. 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.   In 2003, more than 83,000 children were treated in emergency rooms for burns, including nearly 21,000 scalded by hot liquids.   “Kids are also at risk around steam irons, curling irons and space heaters,” said Amy Ethridge, Safe Kids Trident Area coordinator. “There’s a lot you can do around the home to minimize the risk of burn injuries in everyday life.”   Safe Kids Trident Area urges caregivers to: Set water heaters to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Consider putting an anti-scald device (about $30) on each water tap and shower head, and check the temperature of a baby’s bathwater before putting the baby in. Prevent spills. If possible, cook on a back burner. Don’t let pot handles stick out where they can snag loose clothing, and avoid wearing long sleeves or baggy clothes in the kitchen. Don’t place containers of hot food or liquid near the edge of a counter, and don’t pick up anything hot while holding a baby. Keep electrical cords out of reach—especially extension cords and cords connected to heating appliances. Make sure electrical cords can’t be pulled or snagged into a bathtub or sink. Don’t leave a hot iron sitting on an ironing board unattended. Childproof your home. Cover unused electrical outlets. Lock matches, lighters and flammable materials out of a child’s reach. The basics go a long way toward preventing burns and other injuries. Actively supervise. Simply being in the same room with a child is not necessarily supervising. Safety precautions are important, but there is no substitute for active supervision. Don’t let kids play with fireworks. Fireworks injure more than 4,000 children a year. Fireworks are intended for use by adults in open spaces with plenty of active supervision for every child present.   It is still important to take precautions against fire, too.    “You need a smoke alarm on each level and outside every sleeping area, and make sure each one actually works,” said Ethridge. “Test your smoke alarms once a month and replace the batteries every six months (except for lithium batteries that last for 10 years according to manufacturer’s instructions). A working smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in a fire by about 50 percent. If you do not have a working smoke detector, please contact your local fire department. In most cases, they will provide and install a smoke detector for your safety.”   The theme of this year’s Burn Awareness Week is home sprinklers.   “According to the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, the combination of smoke alarms and sprinklers cuts your chances of dying in a fire by 82 percent,” said Ethridge. The U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Protection Association, Underwriters Laboratories, insurance companies and state associations of fire marshals are among the coalition members endorsing home sprinkler systems.   For information about burn prevention, call 792-5327 or visit http://www.usa.safekids.org.     Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 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 catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778, ext. 201.