4 simple ways to prevent burns and scalds

Le Bonheur has cared for more than 300 kids the past two years from burn-related injuries.  Le Bonheur Emergency Medicine physician, Dr. Rudy Kink, and Jennifer Taylor, Injury Prevention and Safe Kids Mid-South director, offer tips and advice to keep kids safe.

Among young children, scalds caused by hot liquids or steam are the most common types of burn-related injuries. Parents and caregivers can take simple precautions such as adjusting the water heater and using the kitchen stove's back burner, whenever possible, to prevent accidental injuries.

At Le Bonheur, most accidental scald burns occur in young children during food preparation. Semisolid and grease burns are the most common and are also associated with the most serious burns that often require extensive care in acute and long-term settings. The past two years Le Bonheur has cared for more than 100 patients who were burned during food preparation. 61 percent of those burns happened while cooking Ramen noodles.

A typical scenario for this to occur involves someone heating the dish in the microwave, reaching to take the bowl out, discovering it’s too hot, and spilling the liquid on themselves or a child nearby.

Safe Kids Mid-South recommends the following four tips to prevent scalds:

1. Adjust your water heater. To prevent accidental scalding, set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or the manufacturer’s recommended setting. Le Bonheur cared for 12 patients in 2025 because the child's bath water was too hot. 
2. Don’t carry or hold a child while cooking or microwaving.  Instead, place children in a high chair a safe distance away from any hot liquids, hot surface, or other hazards in the kitchen.
3. Use the back burners. Kids love to reach, so to prevent hot food or liquid spills in the kitchen, simply use the back burner of your stove and turn pot handles away from the stove edge. Keep hot foods away from the edge of your counters. Last year,  Le Bonheur cared for 20 kids who were burned from touching stove tops or other appliances. 
4. Place matches, gasoline and lighters in a safe place, out of children’s reach. Avoid using novelty lighters or lighters that look like toys. Le Bonheur cared for 17 kids last year burned from open flames. 

Types of burns

Identifying the type and severity of burn can help you know when to treat at home and when to visit the ER.

First-degree burns: Shallow burns limited to the top layer of skin (redness, pain and minor swelling; no blistering)

Second-degree burns: Involves the top layer of skin and the layer beneath it (site appears red, blistered and may be swollen and painful)

Third- or fourth-degree burns: Involves all layers of skin and nerve endings (site can be dry and looks white, waxy, leathery, brown or charred)

Seek medical help if:

• The burn is second degree or higher
• The burned area is more than 2 or 3 inches wide
• The burn comes from a fire, electrical wire/socket, chemicals
• The burn is on the face, hands, scalp, genitals or skin over a joint
• The burn looks infected (puss, swelling, increased redness, or red streaking)

How to treat superficial burns:

• Take clothing off burned area
• Run cool (not cold) water over area, or apply clean, cold compress over area for 3-5 minutes (do not use ice)
• Apply aloe gel or cream to the area a few times per day
• Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain
• Protect area by covering with clean gauze pad or bandage (except for very young children, as bandages can be a choking hazard)

To learn more, visit http://www.ameriburn.org.