HealthInfo Canterbury

Preventing burns

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

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

No one can watch their child every second. But there are easy changes you can make around the home, or to your habits (such as where you put down your cup of tea) that could help to prevent you and your children getting burned.

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 don't stick out.
• Use oven gloves when handling hot objects.
• Lift lids by opening them away from you.
• Don't over-fill pots and pans.
• Don't leave toasters, elements or gas flame on all the time.
• Don't use an accelerant to start a fire or barbecue – this is the most common cause of burns in adults.

  HealthInfo recommends the following videos

• Burn Support – Burnwise

  This short video from Burn Support explains the risk areas for burning at home, and how to make them safe. It's suitable for the whole family to watch.

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

  Andrew, Chevy, Liam and their families share their stories about their burns, so you can learn from them and stop the same thing happening in your family. These videos are also from Burnwise.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Burn Support Group – Hot water burns like fire

  How to prevent scalds in the home.

• KidsHealth – Burns prevention – tips

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

• New Zealand Fire Service – Home and community fire safety

  Tips to make your home safer.

On the next page: Self-care for burns

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by Plastic Surgery Department, Canterbury DHB. Last reviewed May 2021.

Sources

Page reference: 101212

Review key: HIBUR-30143