Indian River Observes Burn Awareness Week

The American Burn Association's (ABA) Burn Awareness Week is traditionally observed the first full week in February and is considered a window of opportunity for organizations to mobilize burn, fire and life safety educators and personnel to unite in sharing a common burn awareness and prevention message in their respective communities.

The Fire Prevention Committee of the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company wishes to share the following safety messages to enhance awareness and continue its mission to promote fire prevention and safety awareness.

Each year, over 450,000 individuals are seen in emergency departments, clinics, or physician’s offices for the treatment of a burn injury in the United States and Canada and a majority of   these injuries are preventable. The ABA strives to bring awareness to the causes of such devastating and costly injuries and encourages everyone to make simple environmental and behavioral changes that can save lives.

• HAIR APPLIANCE TOOLS / HOT OBJECT BURNS

Children will grab anything that they can get their hands on. Keep hot objects away from counter edges and out of the reach of children. 

Did you leave your curling iron plugged in? Make sure to have a conversation with your children about never grabbing hair appliances that may still be hot after use, even when it is not plugged in anymore. 

Always make sure that you teach your children to not grab objects that can be hot. Going through a lesson of what is hot and what is not is a great way to start a conversation that can lead to saving them from a preventable burn injury. 

Help make childhood burn injuries disappear! Teach your children to not play with hot things and to always ask permission before grabbing cups or other items that may be hot.  

• FIREPLACE BURNS

Gas fireplace glass doors can reach excessive temperatures (1,300ºF / 704ºC).  Serious burn injuries from the hot glass can happen in less than 1 second.  Use safety gates, install screen barriers, and supervise toddlers and young children around fireplaces!    

Glass fireplace doors remain hot for 1 hour+ after use. Make sure fireplace on switches and remote controls are out of the reach of children.  

Keep anything that can burn, children, and pets at least 3 feet from a fireplace.

• HOT APPLIANCE/COOKING BURNS

Always use oven mitts or potholders to remove hot items form the stove or microwave.    

Use the back burners of the stove to prevent children from reaching up and touching hot pots and pans.   

If you are overly tired, have consumed alcohol or medication, do not use the stove or stovetop!  

After cooking, check the kitchen to make sure all burners and other appliances are turned off.  

Source:  American Burn Association