Recognize National Burn Awareness Week in Your Home

This week, February 6-12 is National Burn Awareness Week.  It’s a great time to teach your child about fire safety and to evaluate what you can do in your home to create a safer environment.

This year, a big focus area is preventing scald burn injuries. A scald is a burn from hot liquid or steam.  Most of these types of injuries are in children ages 0-4 and usually occur in the kitchen, dining room or bathroom.

Here are some great tips provided by Safe Kids USA to keep children in your home safe:

KITCHEN AND HOT FOOD

• Keep children at least 3 feet from hot appliances, pots, pans or food.
• Use spill-resistant mugs when drinking hot liquids around children.
• Avoid using tablecloths or anything a child can pull on and cause hot food to spill.
• When cooking, use back burners and keep pot handles turned towards the back of the stove.
• Always tuck cords from appliances where children cannot reach them.
• Never hold a child when cooking something hot.
• Test and stir all food before serving children to make sure it is cool enough to eat.
• Supervise children closely when they are in or near the kitchen.

BATHROOM

• Always test the bath water with your hand before bathing children. 
• When children are in or near the bath, watch them closely checking the water temperature frequently. 
• If you are unable to control the temperature that comes out of your faucet, install special tub spouts or shower heads that can shut off the flow of water when it gets too hot.

Messa & Associates has handled many burn and fire cases over the years throughout the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey which resulted in significant injuries and death.  Our attorneys have been successful in litigating cases and obtaining substantial awards in these matters.  For more information or to speak with us about a case, please contact us at 1-877-MessaLaw.