Scald Prevention

Scald Safety

Protecting Children from Scalds:
Kitchen and Dining Areas

Everyday preparations

§Keep friends, relatives, and sitters informed

§Turn pan handles away from stove front

§Observe safe microwave oven practices

§Protect electric cooking appliances and cords



	Note especially the visitor rule: When friends, relatives and babysitters arrive, you can tell them just what activities a small child is getting into lately involving the kitchen and dining areas. Even the most frequent visitors and caretakers may be unaware of recent growth progress that can place toddlers even more at risk of scald injury.
	For example, household members may know they need to keep hot coffee cups off a low table a child has just learned to reach, but a visitor may not. If a toddler discovers and spills a cup of hot coffee placed on the table by a visitor, the resulting burn could cover a large area of a small child’s body and require burn center care.
	Be sure to turn pot handles away from the stove edge when you start cooking.
	Avoid using microwave ovens to heat baby bottles. And don’t allow young children to use microwave ovens themselves.
	Place electric cooking appliances where extension cords are not needed and keep appliance cords away from the counter edge.
	*(Bridge)* The following safety-oriented behaviors will further reduce the risk of scald injury when small children are right underfoot.