HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury

Preventing burns

Te ārai i ngā pāhunutanga

Burns are common, especially in tamariki (children). You may be reading this because you or your tamaiti (child) has had a burn. The key is to learn from a burn help prevent another one as it could be even more serious next time.

Younger tamariki are mostly burned by scalds from hot liquids or objects. Their skin is very thin, and they can get serious burns very easily. Rangatahi (older children) and adults are mostly burned by flames or explosions.

No one can watch their tamaiti every second. But there are easy changes you can make around your home that could help to prevent you and your tamariki getting burned. Some changes to your habits (such as where you put down your cup of tea) might also help.

Tips to avoid burns

• Turn down the temperature of your hot water. It should be at 50 to 55 degrees Celsius.
• Make sure pot and pan handles do not stick out over the edges of your stove.
• Use oven gloves when handling hot objects.
• Lift lids by opening them away from you.
• Do not overfill pots and pans.
• Do not leave toasters, elements or gas flame on all the time.
• Do not use an accelerant to start a fire or barbecue. This is the most common cause of burns in adults.

  HealthInfo recommends the following videos

• Burnwise
  • Preventing burns

    This short video explains the risk areas for burning at home and how to make them safe. It is suitable for the whole whānau (family) to watch.

  • Andrew's story, Chevy's story and Liam's story

    Andrew, Chevy, Liam and their whānau share their stories about their burns, so you can learn from them and stop the same thing happening in your whānau.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Burn Support Group – Hot water burns like fire

  How to prevent scalds in the home.

• KidsHealth – How to prevent burns in children

  Key facts about burns, and how to protect tamariki from them.

• New Zealand Fire Service – Home and community fire safety

  Tips to make your home safer.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2024.

Sources

Page reference: 101212

Review key: HIBUR-30143