Burns and scalds

Bath time is an important part of most children’s routines. However, hot bath water is also responsible for the highest number of fatal and severe burn injuries among young children, with around 2,000 ending up in A&E following a bath water scald. The following tips can help keep your little ones safe:

• Keep an eye on your child while the bath is running, not just once they’re in the bath. If you can keep the bathroom door closed to keep them out, even better
• When filling a bath, run cold water first and then add hot water. Mix the water well to avoid hotspots
• Only put your child in the bath when you’ve finished running it and checked the temperature. You’re more likely to feel if it’s too hot if you use your elbow
• A thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) controls the temperature of water as it comes into the bath so that it’s hot enough to enjoy a good soak, but not hot enough to scald. If you don’t already have one, you might want to think about getting one fitted. Even with a TMV, however, water can still be hot enough to cause discomfort to a child’s delicate skin, so it is still important to follow the advice given above.

When you’re a busy parent, sometimes a hot cup of tea or coffee can be just the pick-up you need to get you through the day. Unfortunately, hot drinks and small children don’t mix. They are the number one cause of scalds to the under-fives. They can cause life-changing injuries, and can still scald a child 15 minutes after being made.

• Never leave hot drinks within reach of children
• Avoid drinking hot drinks while holding a baby or a child
• Using a coiled lead on a kettle reduces the risk of a child pulling a kettle on top of themselves
• If you use a hob, always use the back burners where possible, and turn pan handles in to stop children trying to grab them.

There are many items in the home that can burn or scald. Here are some to be especially watchful for:

• Hair straighteners can cause serious burns to children for up to 40 minutes after use. So switch them off and store away immediately in a heat-resistant pouch
• Mobile phone chargers can cause horrific burns if a child puts the live end in their mouth. Keep them switched off and out of the way when not in use
• Oven doors, irons, hot pans – the kitchen is a dangerous place for small children. If you can, keep children out of the kitchen while cooking
• Candles – be especially careful if your child is in fancy dress, which can burn more easily than normal clothing. Why not consider using battery operated candles instead?
• Children find flames fascinating, so matches and lighters are a serious risk. Keep them out of reach, preferably locked away. We recommend having one high, lockable cupboard in your kitchen to keep anything dangerous in one place and out of a child’s reach.

There’s nothing more comforting than the crackle of a log fire during the winter months. Even a portable or electric heater can help you keep cosy. However, if there are children around you need to take steps to make sure they are safe.

• Supervision is important around fires
• Keep all fires and heaters well-guarded, especially open fires, and ensure guards meet British Standards (BS)
• For fitted or portable heaters with a built in guard, give extra protection by adding a surrounding guard. For children, use a nursery guard with side clips that fit into fixed wall brackets.

Fireworks can be great fun, but too many people, including very young children, are badly hurt every year when things go wrong.

The safest place to enjoy fireworks is at a large public display - far fewer people are injured here than at smaller family or private parties. However, if you do decide to hold your own garden display, there are steps you can take to make it safer:

• Only adults should deal with setting up firework displays, the lighting of fireworks and the safe disposal of fireworks once they have been used
• Children and young people should watch and enjoy fireworks from a safe distance
• Direct any rocket fireworks well away from spectators
• Never let children under five use a sparkler
• Never hold a baby in your arms while you are holding a sparkler
• When the sparkler has finished, put it in a bucket of cold water
• Always supervise children around bonfires.

To find out more about bonfires, fireworks or sparklers, or to read the Fireworks Code in full, visit our fireworks page.