Health Topics for Prepare for Emergencies

Department of Emergency Medicine

Emergency Medical Services Learning Resources Center

Burn Awareness and Prevention

• From Birth to One Year
• Toddlers--From One to Three Years
• Preschool--From Three to Five Years
• Grade School
• Teenage Safety
• Family Safety
• From Cooking to Burns
• General Burn Prevention Tips
• General Burn First-aid

From Birth to One Year

• Install smoke alarms in or near bedrooms, check them monthly and change batteries twice a year.
• Never microwave bottles--it heats unevenly.
• Never leave children unattended while food is being prepared.
• Never store anything flammable on stovetop.
• Never eat or drink hot foods or liquids while holdingor carrying an infant.
• Test all warm liquids and foods before feeding.
• Shorten electrical cords by coiling them; do not allow them to dangle.
• Do not use tablecloths.
• Always keep cooking utensil handles turned to back of stove.
• Keep highchairs, chairs, and playpens away from stoves and counters.
• Walkers are dangerous, remove wheels or do not use.
• Use safety plugs in all unused outlets.
• Limit time in sun--babies burn easily, use sunscreen (at least 30 SPF).
• Only use cool mist vaporizers, keep them a safe distance from crib.
• Use space heaters that have an automatic shut off switch in case of accidental tip over.
• Allow three feet between a space heater and anything flammable.
• Keep candles, potpourri, matches, cigarettes, etc., out of reach.
• Run cool water first for tub, then warm until desired temperature.
• Test tub water with wrist, elbow, or special thermometer.
• Face child away from faucet and toward opposite end of tub.
• Set water heater temperature at 120 degrees F.
• Store chemicals/cleaners in original containers and out of reach or locked up.
• Keep baby equipment out of direct sunlight; metal and plastic parts can cause burns.
• Always dress your baby in non-flammable sleepwear.

Toddlers--From One to Three Years

• Never leave children unattended in kitchen while food is cooking.
• Never allow a child to stand on chair near the stove while you are cooking.
• Never leave hot iron unattended on ironing board.
• Never store snacks on or above stove, children may try to get them.
• Never leave cigarettes, matches, lighters, etc., in reach of children.
• Never store flammable items on stovetop.
• Never allow electrical appliances in or near bathtub.
• Never leave a child alone in the house.
• Install functioning smoke alarms in or near bedrooms; check them monthly and change batteries twice a year.
• Establish a three-foot "No Zone" around all hot appliances: stove, fireplace, barbecue, heaters, etc.
• Do not allow young children to pour or handle hot liquids or food.
• Do not allow children to play with pots and pans, they cannot tell when they are hot or not.
• Do not use tablecloths; children can pull hot foods, candles, potpourri, etc. onto them.
• Always have shoes on your child when outside; hot sidewalks, sand, cigarettes, campfires, etc. can cause burns.
• Store chemicals and cleaners in original containers and out of reach or locked up. Never store in pop bottlers or other "drink type containers."
• Install safety plugs in all unused outlets.
• Use button or knob covers for stove.
• Always keep cooking utensil handles turned to the back to stove and use back burners to cook.
• Keep electrical cords short by coiling them; do not allow them to dangle.
• Keep water heater temperature at 120 degrees F.
• Run cool tub first, then add warm until desired temperature.
• Monitor while taking a bath. Do not leave alone.
• Always use sunscreen, (at least 30 SPF) when outside, even on cloudy days.
• Use safety decals on bottom of tub, to prevent falls.
• Do not keep flammable liquids in your home.
• Use only cool mist vaporizers, and keep them a safe distance from bed or crib.
• Use space heaters that have an automatic shut off switch for accidental tip over.
• Always use non-flammable sleepwear.

Preschool--From Three to Five Years

• Continue adequate supervision.
• Discourage game playing, (hide and seek, tag, etc.) around heat or fire sources such as stoves, heaters, barbecues, fireplaces, etc.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach, and purchase only child-resistant lighters.
• If you smoke, never leave lit cigarettes unattended.
• Begin to educate your child on fire safety, escape routes, and the "stop, drop, and roll" technique.
• Practice and reinforce these fire safety rules often with your child.
• Do not give hot foods or liquids to your child, allow items to cool.
• Do not carry hot foods or liquids and your child at the same time.
• Do not attempt to carry hot foods or liquids with toddlers underfoot.
• Do not use tablecloths, as they are too easily pulled off.
• Keep fire extinguishers in your home, check the pressure often.
• Be a good role model, children mimic adults.
• Never allow children to handle fireworks.
• Use only flame-retardant and noncombustible costumes for Halloween.
• Teach children that matches and lighters are tools for adults, and when they are older you will show them how to use them properly.
• Always use non-flammable sleepwear.

Grade School

• Teach your child how to call 911 and what to say.
• Instruct your child on using matches and lighters safely and responsibly.
• Begin to instruct your child on safe cooking methods:
  • Wear short or close fitting sleeves to avoid catching on fire.
  • Turn pot handles to back.
  • If grease fire starts: cover the pan, turn off burners, do not try to move pan.
  • Never put water on grease fire.
  • Lift lids away from you, to allow steam to escape.
  • Use oven mitts to move pans or lift lids.
  • No playing around while cooking.
• Place microwave at level safe for your child to use.
• Teach microwave safety:
  • Use move mitts to remove items, containers get hot.
  • Stir food before eating, center is hot.
  • Allow popcorn bags to cool a little before opening, then do so away from you.
• Instruct children about coiling cords or using short ones, and the "no dangle" rule.
• Teach children not to "warm up" by or near fireplaces, heaters, or fires.
• Teach your child electrical safety:
  • Do not climb on electrical poles or towers.
  • Do not climb over fences that surround electrical substations.
  • Do not fly kites near electric power lines.
  • Do not attempt to retrieve kite if caught in power lines.
  • Do not climb trees near power lines.
• Teach your child proper use of extension cords: do not overload, do not run under carpets, run behind furniture, etc.
• Use only flame-retardant and noncombustible costumes for Halloween.
• Be a good role model.
• Involve children in planning and practicing safety and fire drills.
• Always dress in non-flammable sleepwear.

Teenage Safety

• Allow lawnmower engines to cool before refueling.
• Work on cars outdoors only, gasoline vapors may ignite.
• Never open radiator cap if car overheats, allow to cool.
• Use caution with hair dryers and long hair, hair can be pulled into motor and catch fire.
• Use caution with curling irons.
• Avoid too much sun--use adequate sunscreen and/or clothing.
• Use caution when using hobby glues and finishes; vapors can ignite or cause loss of consciousness.
• Inquire about fire and safety issues for any new job.
• Do not use fireworks.
• Use matches and lighters with caution.
• Never throw aerosol cans in a fire, they can explode.
• Never ignite vapors from aerosol cans, they can explode.
• Never use gasoline to start a fire.
• Never smoke while refueling a car.
• Never smoke while using an aerosol can (hairspray, paint, etc.).
• Always use ashtrays for cigarettes and matches.
• Do not wear loose clothing around open flames.
• No fooling around or fighting while cooking.
• Learn what to do when smoke alarm goes off:
  • Yell FIRE! Warn anyone who may be home.
  • Follow preplanned escape routes.
  • Do not try to save anything (CDs, jewelry, pets, etc.) except yourself.
  • If you see smoke, keep low, crawl, take short breaths or use wet cloth over nose or mouth.
  • Feel doors, if hot, do not open, find alternate route.
  • Do not re-enter until told to do so by an adult.
• Babysitting Safety:
  • Know contact phone numbers.
  • Ask about escape plan.
  • Never leave child alone.
  • Don't smoke.
  • Ask about cooking privileges.
  • Never carry hot foods or liquids and a child at the same time.
  • No loose or large sleeves while cooking.
  • Never leave child alone in the kitchen.
  • Do not allow child under foot while cooking.
  • If bathing a child, gather all supplies prior to bath.
  • Run cold water first, then add warm.
  • Test water with wrist or thermometer.
  • If you need to leave bathroom, take child with you.

Family Safety

Develop a plan of escape, know two ways out of every room, and practice at least every six months.

Electrical outlets and cords

• Do not overload outlets or cords.
• Keep safety plugs in unused outlets.
• Connect only one heat-producing appliance (toaster, coffee maker, etc.) per outlet.
• Do not run cords under carpets or rugs.
• Do not use frayed or broken cords.
• Keep cords out of high traffic areas.
• Run cords behind furniture.

Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves

• Always use a screen.
• Build small fires only.
• Don't burn paper or trash, sparks can fly.
• Have your chimney inspected and cleaned yearly.
• Burn only dry, seasoned hardwood.
• Remove ashes in metal container and store them outside.
• Never leave children alone with fire.

Smoke alarms

• Test them monthly.
• Never paint them.
• Clean them frequently.
• Install them outside all bedrooms.
• Install them on each level, including basement.
• Change batteries twice a year.
• Install special units for visual/hearing impaired.
• "Chirping" indicates low battery.
• Never "borrow" batteries from smoke detectors.

Space heaters

• Keem them three feet away from anything flammable, including walls.
• Use only recommended fuel.
• Cool unit before adding fuel.
• Refill fuel in vented area.
• Turn off before leaving home or going to bed.
• Do not use an extension cord on unit.
• Use an electric heater that has automatic shut off for accidental tip overs.

Kitchens

• Never leave food cooking on stove unsupervised.
• Never leave young children alone in the kitchen.
• Turn all panhandles to back of stove.
• Have fire extinguisher nearby, not over stove.
• Keep cords on appliances short by coiling them.
• Never store flammable items on stove.
• Never store snacks on or above stove.
• Do not plug appliances into stovetop outlet, cords could catch fire.
• Wear short or rolled, tight fitting sleeves while cooking.
• Always have a lid handy in case of grease fires.
• Use only rubber-backed area rugs in kitchen.
• Fasten oven door so child will not use it as a step.
• Do not use area rugs near stove.
• Cook on rear burners.

Microwaves

• Never use metal or aluminum foil.
• Do not use glass or ceramic with metal trims; they can cause lip burns or sparks.
• If fire occurs, unplug, do not open door.
• Never place eggs in shell in microwave.
• Use oven mitts to remove food.
• Never let young children (under 7) remove hot food.
• Use caution when heating jelly donuts, jelly becomes extremely hot.
• Never run when empty.
• Open microwave popcorn bag away from face.
• Always stir food before serving, there may be hot spots.
• Always check food temperature before giving to young children.
• Use only microwave safe containers.

Miscellaneous

• Burn candles in appropriate containers only.
• Set water heater temperature at no more than 120 degrees.
• Do not flush toilets or run other water sources while shower is in use.
• Wet contents of ashtrays before disposing.
• Never store gasoline in your home.
• Always store chemicals in the original containers, keep out of reach of children.
• Never use gasoline as a cleaner or remover.
• Never prime a carburetor with gasoline.
• Keep baby equipment out of direct sunlight, plastic and metal parts can get very hot in the sun.
• Have furnace and chimney inspected and cleaned yearly.
• Use cool mist vaporizers only and keep safe distance from bed or crib.
• Use charcoal lighter fluid to soak charcoal, never re-soak after lighting, because the can may explode.
• Never use gasoline for charcoal.
• Have water source nearby with any open burning.
• Never allow children around an open fire.
• Purchase only non-flammable sleep wear.
• Wear shoes or sandals outside: cigarettes, sand, pavement, asphalt, tar, etc. can all cause burns.
• Never carry gasoline in your trunk.
• Seat belt buckles get hot and can cause contact burn.
• Overnight guests should be made aware of fire exit plan.

Bathroom

• Bath time is not playtime.
• Water temperature: no more than 120 degrees.
• Do not leave child alone.
• Run cold water first for tub, then warm.
• Check with thermometer or wrist, prior to entering tub.
• Face child away from faucet.
• Have clearly marked Hot and Cold faucets.
• Do not leave personal appliances near sinks or bathtubs. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFI) will disconnect if appliance is dropped in water.
• Never use space heater in bathroom.
• Keep chemicals (cleaners, hair dyes, etc.) in original containers and out of reach.
• Dry hands before touching electrical appliances.
• Install slide-bolt latch on upper, outside bathroom door to keep toddlers out and safe.

From Cooking to Burns

It takes less than one second for a third-degree burn to occur from these cooking methods:

General Burn Prevention Tips

• Develop a home exit plan.
  • Practice twice a year.
• Install smoke alarms.
  • Check frequently, change batteries twice a year.
• Hot water safety
  • Set water heater no higher than 120 degrees.
• Matches/lighters
  • Keep out of reach and sight of children.
• Cooking safety
  • Keep children away while cooking.
• Bathroom safety
  • Never leave child unattended.

General Burn First-aid

• Stop the burning process.
  • Smother flames--stop, drop, and roll.
  • If chemical, (except lime) flush with water.
• Never use ice on burn.
• Cover burn area with plastic wrap.
• Keep patient warm.
• Get medical help immediately--call 911.

Last Reviewed 2005

Source: Burn Treatment Center

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.