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Preventing  scalds

 

Of the many accidents that happen in the home, scalds are one of the most preventable. A few simple measures will help minimize the risk of potential disaster

 

In the kitchen

 

• Avoid using a table-cloth. Little ones might be able to drag it and pull hot food and drink on top of themselves.  
• Turn saucepan handles away from the edge of the cooker and, even better, cook on the back burners. 
• You can buy guards that fix to the edge of the cooker to prevent pans from being pulled off. 
• Don't try holding your baby and a hot cup of anything. Put the cup down before picking up your child. . Avoid laying rugs in the kitchen, especially around the cooker area, because of the danger of slipping. 
• Check where your child is before moving hot liquids around in the kitchen. Keep children out of your 'traffic path' when you are cooking. . Kettles now have flexes no longer than 75cm (30in), but other appliances with cords, such as chip fryers and slow cookers, should be kept well away from the edge of kitchen surfaces. 
• Make sure that anyone in charge of your child knows about safety in the kitchen, and in general, and that they always watch your child.  
• Although microwaves are convenient for heating up baby's bottles, they will sometimes cause 'hot spots' in otherwise cold-feeling milk, which may burn the child's tongue or throat. Bottles should really be warmed up in hot water but, if microwaved, should be given a good shake and left to settle for a few minutes. All microwaved food should be well stirred before it is given to a child to distribute the heat evenly. 
• Care should be taken with foods, such as doughnuts, that, while colon the outside, could have piping-hot jam on the inside. 

In the bathroom

 

• Never leave a child under five alone in the bath. Even an older child may turn on the taps as a game and cause a scald. The best taps are the push and turn' variety, which are more difficult for children to turn on. 
• Unplug your phone or put the answer phone on when you are bathing your child so that you are not distracted.  
• Run the cold water first. 
• Ensure that your thermostat is at least as low as 15.6°C (60°F) - even this temperature can cause superficial burns in 1 0 seconds. 

Out of reach

Of all children, toddlers are especially vulnerable to scalds. They are starting to explore their world, to climb and to reach for things, and this is when scalding accidents occur. A scald may be minor or serious but it is always painful any may lead to lifelong scarring, so be vigilant.

 

When to call the doctor

 

Always take your child to your doctor or local accident and emergency department if:

 

• Your child has scalded his face, genitals or neck. . Your child has scalded more than a palm-sized area.
• The skin is blistered, or has a 'dead' white bloodless appearance. This suggests more than just a superficial scald and there may be problems healing. Do not break any blisters. A doctor may decide to, but breaking a blister will make the wound very sore.
• After initially seeming a minor burn, the skin around the area becomes red and hot, or if your child develops a temperature. There may be infection brewing - covering the scalded area with a wet, clean towel will reduce the chances of this. 

Treating scalds

 

Prompt action is extremely important if your child is scalded. It's vital to know what to do because the wrong action may result in further injury. The quicker you react, the less damage will occur and the less will be the pain and trauma for your child.

 

• If your child is wearing clothes and they come off easily, remove them. You should also remove any jewellery near the affected area before swelling occurs. 
• Place the affected area under cold running water for at least 10 minutes. This will greatly reduce further harm to the skin. 
• Place a wet cloth or towel over the scalded area to soothe the skin. You may also wish to give your child some pain relief such as paracetamol syrup. 

Finally, loosely cover the scalded area with a clean piece of material or a sterile bandage. Do not pull this too tight because it may stick to the scald and damage the skin

 

Take care!

 

• Never use ice, Vaseline or butter on a scald because they will continue to burn the skin
• Do not try to remove your child's clothes if they are sticking to the scalded area because this will cause further damage to her skin.
• Make sure you have a complete first-aid kit and leave it in an accessible place. 

For  More  Information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.