Burn Awareness Week focuses on burn prevention and awareness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 276,086 people received medical care for treatment of
unintentional burn injuries in 2020, with 3,028 deaths from fire and smoke inhalation in the United States.
A few tips to keep you and loved ones safe are:
- Keep little ones safe from burns and scalds by having a “kid-free zone” in the kitchen of at least 3 feet around hot appliances.
- Place hot objects so that they cannot be pulled down or knocked over and always turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge.
- Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
- Teach children that hot things can burn.
- Use dry oven mitts or potholders. Hot cookware can heat moisture in a potholder or hot pad, resulting in a scald burn.
- Never hold a child while you are cooking, drinking a hot liquid, or carrying hot foods or liquids.
What to do if a burn occurs:
- Treat a burn right away by putting it in cool water for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Cover the burn with a clean, dry cloth. Do not apply creams, ointments, sprays or other home remedies.
- Remove all clothing, diapers, jewelry and metal from the burned area. These can hide underlying burns and retain heat, which can increase skin damage.
When should you call 911?
- See your doctor or call 911 if the burn is larger than your palm.
- When in doubt, call 911. Don’t wait to call 911 or your local emergency number for medical help. Minutes matter.