Prevent Burns at Home

Preventing burns in the kitchen

No children, no pets: Declare a kid-free zone 3 feet (1 meter) around your stove when you cook. And keep the pets away as well

Reduce the risk of catching your clothes on fire by wearing clothes with tight-fitting or short sleeves (or roll your sleeves up) when you cook.

Turn pot handles in so you can't bump them and children can't grab them.

Turn off your burners and your oven when you're not using them.

Don't leave spoons or other utensils in pots while your food is cooking.

Keep oven mitts and pot holders handy near (but not on top of) the stove. (Caution: using a wet mitt or pot holder can cause a severe steam burn.)

Oil and water: Don't toss wet or frozen foods into hot grease or oil (in frying pans or deep-fat fryers). The violent reaction will splatter hot oil.

Steam is hotter than boiling water, so take the lids off cooking liquids carefully to prevent steam burns.

Pan fires: Keep a lid for the pan you're using near your stove. If a pan of food catches fire, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flames, then turn off the burner. Leave the lid in place until the pan is completely cool. Don't peek; lifting the lid lets in oxygen and the fire could re-ignite.

	Don't carry a blazing pan to the sink.
	Don't pour water on a grease fire.
	Don't splatter the burning food by using a portable fire extinguisher.

Hot Water

Adjust your water heater's thermostat to 120°F (49°C) or less. Outfit tubs and showers with anti-scald fixtures.

Turn on the cold water first, then add hot.

Child Safety

Supervise children when they're cooking or when they're near woodstoves, fireplaces, barbecue grills, and space heaters.

Unplug irons and move them out of reach after each use.

Install safety covers in unused electrical outlets and replace all damaged or brittle electrical cords.

Teach children that steam radiators, stove burners, toasters, irons, and other familiar household objects can sometimes be hot.

Keep matches and lighters out of children's reach (up high in a locked cabinet) and use child-resistant lighters.

Remember: stop, drop, and roll

If your clothes catch fire, stop where you are (don't run). Drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands, and roll over and over to smother the flames. Cool the burned area with water, then call for help.

A matter of degrees

Burns are classified by the amount of damage they do to body tissue. Learn to identify them and know how to treat them

	First-degree burns are minor and heal quickly. Symptoms: reddened skin; tender and sore.
	Second-degree burns are serious injuries. They require immediate first aid and professional treatment. Symptoms: blistered skin; very painful.
	Third-degree burns are severe injuries and require emergency professional medical treatment. Symptoms: white, brown, or charred tissue, often surrounded by blisters; little or no pain at first.

First aid for burns

	Cool the burn. For first-degree and second-degree burns, cool the burned area with cool water for 10 - 15 minutes. This will lower the victim's skin temperature, stop the burning process, numb the pain, and reduce swelling. Do not apply ice.
	Cool third-degree burns only with wet sterile dressings until medical help arrives.
	Remove burned clothing. Lay the victim flat on his or her back and remove burned clothing that isn't stuck to the victim's skin. Remove jewelry and tight clothing from around the burned area before swelling sets in. Elevate burned areas.
	Cover the burn. After cooling a first-degree or second-degree burn, apply a clean, dry dressing to the burned area.
	No grease. Never put butter or any other grease (including medicated ointments) on burned skin. Grease holds in heat, which can make the injury worse.
	Don't break blisters. Germs can enter through the open wound.
	Treat for shock. Keep the victim's body-temperature normal to reduce the risk of shock. Cover unburned areas with a dry blanket.

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