Burns and Scalds Prevention

Around 4,600 children under five years of age go to hospital emergency departments each year in Australia for treatments of burns and scalds and a further 1,450 are admitted for more intensive treatment. These can be caused by a vast number of situations.

We would like to highlight several issues. These include:
· Hot beverages and or food
· Hot water from taps
· Children's Nightwear

There is also a fact sheet on the prevention of scalds that can be downloaded by clicking on the following link - scalds fact sheet

Here is some more detailed information about the issues mentioned above:

Hot beverages and or food

For small babies, burns caused when their drinks or food has been heated in the microwave have increased. This type of injury has resulted in full thickness burns to the baby's mouth.

Safer ways to warm your babies bottles and their food include:

• Take the bottle out of the fridge and let the bottle stand till it reaches room temperature. (Body temperature is tightly regulated around 37º)
• Place the bottle in pre-boiled water.
• Heat the baby's food in a saucepan and allow to cool.
• Stir the food thoroughly to disperse any hot spots before feeding your child.
  
  Remember that all foods serve to a baby should only be at room temperature or tepid.

Hot water from taps
Hot water burns are a major cause of injury to children. Serious burns can occur when hot water temperature exceeds 50 degrees celcius. Legislation requires all new hot water systems deliver hot water to the bathroom at no more than 50 degrees celcius.

Children's Nightwear

In a single year, as many as 300 Australian children are admitted to hospital after being burned when nightclothes caught fire.

Flimsy, loose-fitting girls' nighties were often involved. These would swirl into contact with flames or hot surfaces and burn quickly. A number of prevention efforts, including a change to the Australian standard for warning labels, have led to a major reduction in injuries. However, parents and carers need to be especially aware of hand-me-down clothes which may not have passed the new legislation.

For more information visit the following website:
Department of Fair Trading

NSW Fire Brigade