Each year, thousands of children end up in emergency rooms for fire and burn injuries. Many of these accidents, however, can be prevented by exercising caution and childproofing your home. Follow these tips to protect your children from fires and burns in your home or outdoors.
Indoors
When cooking, use the stove’s back burners as much as possible. Doing so prevents children from reaching hot burners and pots. Also put your toddler in a safe area, such a high chair, when cooking.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Curious kids might grab them and pull them down on themselves.
Keep flammable items like towels and oven mitts off the stove top so kids don’t move them toward the fire.
Make sure microwaved foods and drinks are not too hot before giving them to a young child. Don’t heat baby bottles in the microwave.
Don’t let kids get near things that might start a fire, such as petrol, paraffin, lamps, matches, candles, lighters, and hot irons. Store matches and lighters in locked drawers or cabinets. Put out candles before leaving the room.
Store flammable liquids in safe containers, out of reach of children and away from open flames.
Keep space heaters at least three feet away from flammable materials like bedding and drapes. Supervise the space heater and don’t let kids get near them.
Cover sockets to prevent children from inserting their fingers or other objects. Use tamper- resistant receptacles.
Cover, move or remove electric wires and keep them out of children’s reach.
Choose natural fabrics for kids, which are harder to ignite than synthetics. Don’t let children wear loose-fitting clothing at night. Pajamas should fit snugly.
Teach children what to do if their clothes catch fire (stop, drop and roll):