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Burns and electrocution prevention
Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.
Key facts about burns from fire and flame
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an average of just under five children under the age of 15 die each year from being burnt by fire or flame (based on a five year period from 2002 to 2006)
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boys and younger children are at higher risk of fire related injury
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house fires in which children die are most commonly caused by unattended heaters or someone playing with matches, lighters or candles  Back to Top
Key facts about burns from hot objects or substances (such as hot surfaces, objects and liquids)
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burns from hot objects or substances result in fewer deaths but cause over five times the number of hospitalisations than burns from fire and flame
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young skin burns more quickly and deeply than adult skin, and at lower temperatures
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a hot cup of tea spilled over a baby or toddler is equivalent to a bucketful of boiling water tipped over an adult
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of the children aged one to two years old who are admitted to hospital for burns, over half are severely scalded by spilt hot drinks (tea and coffee) and other liquids (such as soups and noodles)
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excessively hot tap water in baths, showers and sinks is the next most frequent reason for hot liquid burn (or scald) admissions to hospital
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almost 40 percent of New Zealand homes have tap water that is dangerously hot, and nearly 10 percent have water so hot that burns are almost inevitable
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a small adjustment to your hot water tap temperature makes a big difference to your child's risk of burn injury
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children who are severely burned often require many operations and special treatments over extended periods of time and have to deal with the consequences of disfigurement from their burn for the rest of their lives Back to Top
How to protect children from burnsBelow are Safekids' practical tips for preventing burns:
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keep hot drinks away from young children and never nurse a child while holding a hot drink
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keep kettles and kettle cords where children can’t reach them
- cook on the back elements of the stove first
- turn pot handles toward the back of the stove
- avoid heating babies’ drinks in microwaves; if you do use them, always shake the bottle well once it’s heated
- always supervise young children at bath or shower time and when they wash their hands
- keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach, and teach them to take matches or lighters to an adult straight away if they do find them
- secure candles in a candleholder with a wide base and keep them away from anything that will burn easily, such as paper and curtains
- put all candles out before going to sleep or leaving a room
- never use candles in bedrooms
- never leave cooking unattended
- ensure all electrical appliances are in good working order
- don’t overload power points or multi-boxes
- always turn electric blankets off before getting into bed and have them checked yearly by a qualified electrician
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remember to always run cold water into the bath before you run the hot water
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a safe temperature for hot tap water is between 50 and 55 degrees; if the water in your home seems too hot, ask a registered plumber or local energy supplier to check it and turn it down Back to Top
How to protect children from electrocution
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the Vector website has information about electricity and preventing electrocution for kids, parents and teachers; there is information about what to do in an emergency and games which kids can play Back to Top
Download and print colour brochures in several languages Be burn and firewise (at right), a Safekids pamphlet, is available at the Safekids website in the following languages:
Where to go for more informationACC (Accident Compensation Corporation)
The ACC website makes the following fact sheet available:
New Zealand Fire Service
The New Zealand Fire Service website has a section on fire safety and there is also a separate FireWise website- an educational website for the promotion of fire safety. There is information about school programmes at the FireWise website.
Safekids New Zealand
Safekids offers services designed to contribute to the reduction of childhood injury. You can download a Child burn injuries factsheet (April 2010) (at right) from the Safekids website. Address: Fifth Floor, Cornwall Complex, Building 15, 40 Claude Road, Epsom, Auckland Postal address: PO Box 26 488, Epsom, Auckland Phone: 64 9 630 9955 Fax: 64 9 630 9961 Email: infocentre@safekids.org.nz (To access data and materials from the Safekids National Information & Resource Centre) Website: http://www.safekids.org.nz/ Back to Top
References
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Your notes
Endorsement
This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 04/10/2007
Copyright
Fact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation.
© The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2012
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