5 Tips to Prevent Accidental Burns

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fire and burn injuries are one of the leading causes of child injury deaths in the United States. Younger children have a higher likelihood of scalding from water or steam, whereas older children are more prone to flame or fire burns. But it's not just children at risk — adults need to be careful too.

Here are five Dos and Don'ts when it comes to burn prevention:

1. DO: Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every floor of your home, especially near or in bedrooms.
   DON'T: Forget to test them once a month and replace the batteries if needed.


2. DO: Use the back burners on your stove and turn pot/pan handles in so children are less likely to reach them, and so nothing hot can fall or spill within reach of your child or pet.
   DON'T: Let debris and grease build up on, or in, the stove, as this can ignite easily.


3. DO: Burn candles on a flat surface out of reach of children or pets.
   DON'T: Leave candles burning when you leave the room.


4. DO: Set water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to prevent water from reaching scalding temperatures.
   DON'T: Let a child get into a bathtub without first testing the water temperature yourself.


5. DO: Develop a fire escape plan and make sure your family and babysitter are aware of it.
   DON'T: Buy the wrong kind of fire extinguisher for your home. Here are the different classifications you can choose from.

The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas is the only state-certified burn treatment facility in New Jersey and one of the largest in North America, providing treatment for adult and pediatric patients.

How do you prevent accidental burns in your home?