• Keep matches, lighters and ashtrays out of the reach of children.
• Childproof all electrical outlets with plastic plugs.
• Do not allow your child to play close to fireplaces, radiators or space heaters.
• Replace all frayed, broke or worn electrical cords.
• Never leave barbecue grills unattended.
• Teach your children that irons, curling irons, grills, radiators and ovens can get very hot and are dangerous to touch or play near. Never leave any of these items unattended with children near. Unplug all appliances after using them.

Kitchen Concerns

• Never leave a child alone in the kitchen when food is cooking.
• Enforce a "kid-free" zone three feet around the oven or stove while you are cooking. Use a playpen, high chair or other stationary device to keep your child from getting too close.
• Never leave a hot oven door open.
• Use back burners if possible. When using front burners, turn pot handles inward. Never let them stick out where a child could grab them.
• Do not leave spoons or other utensils in pots while cooking.
• Turn off burners and ovens when they are not being used.
• Do not use wet pot holders, as they may cause steam burns.
• Carefully place wet foods into a deep fryer or frying pan containing grease rather than tossing them in. The reaction between hot oil and water will splatter.
• Remove pot lids carefully to avoid being burned by steam. Remember, steam is hotter than boiling water.
• In case of a small pan fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames, turn off the burner, and wait for the pan to cool completely.
• Never carry your child and hot liquids at the same time.
• Never leave hot liquids, like a cup of coffee, where children can reach them. Don't forget that a child can get burned from hot liquids by pulling on hanging tablecloths.
• Wear tight-fitting or rolled-up sleeves when cooking to reduce the risk of your clothes catching on fire.
• In microwave ovens, use only containers that are made for microwaves. Test microwaved food for heat and steam before giving it to your child. (Never warm a bottle in the microwave. It can heat the liquid unevenly and burn your child.)
• Avoid letting appliance cords hang over the side of countertops, where children could pull on them.

Hot Water

• Lower the thermostat on your water heater so that the temperature at the tap is less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding.
• When using tap water, always turn on the cold water first, then add hot. When finished, turn off the hot water first.
• Test the temperature of bath water with your forearm or the back of your hand before placing your child in the water.
• Use a cool-mist vaporizer to treat upper-respiratory illnesses, as hot water vaporizers can cause steam burns or can spill on your child.
• Never leave children alone in the bathroom for any reason. They are at risk of burns and drowning.

Related Article

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