Fire Safety and Burns - Identifying
High-Risk Situations
Children are at increased risk for serious fire and burn injuries and
death because they have thinner skin than adults, resulting in more
serious burns at lower temperatures. Most burns and fire injuries and
deaths occur in the home. By knowing the high-risk situations for fires
and burns and taking steps to make your home safer, you can help protect
your child from fire and burn injuries or death.
High-risk situations can include:
- failing to install and maintain working smoke alarms.
- leaving children unattended in the home, especially in the kitchen
or bathroom.
- providing easy access to matches, gasoline, lighters, or other
flammable products.
- failing to establish an escape plan.
- working with hot foods or liquids around toddlers and infants.
- failing to check the temperature of tap water and/or not lowering
the water heater thermostat to 120° F or below.
- allowing children to handle fireworks.
- exposing electrical outlets and cords.
- allowing children near kerosene lamps, space heaters, or outside
grills.
- leaving supplemental heating equipment on while adults and children
are asleep.
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