“Children rely on our ability to protect them from burn injuries through our knowledge and experience. Please take the necessary steps required to prevent these horrible injuries from occurring by following the safety tips provided,” stated State Fire Marshal Geraci. The following safety tips will help protect you and those you love from needless burn injuries in the home and abroad:

Teach children that matches and lighters are tools and not toys. Instruct them to not touch them and tell an adult if they find them within reach.

Store all flammable liquids, chemicals and cleaners out of reach of children or install child-proof locking mechanisms on the cabinet doors.

Do not leave lit candles unattended.

Replace damaged electrical cords on appliances.

Keep all hot items and anything electrical out of reach of children and away from edges of counters and tables.

Remain with children when fire pits, chiminea or bonfires are in use. The coals will remain hot for hours after a fire is extinguished. Ashes act as an insulator and hot coals can easily cause burns to exposed skin.

Establish a kid-free zone where young children can be watched but remain safely away from where cooking is being done.
When using the stove, keep handles turned inward to eliminate being easily knocked to the floor.

Do not handle hot items while holding young children.

The water in a child’s bath should not exceed 104 degrees. Set your water heater at 120 degrees or below to help prevent scald injuries.

Before placing a child in the tub, test the water temperature by moving your hand through the water. If the water feels hot, it is too hot for a child.

Always supervise children in the bath.

In addition, ensure you have properly placed and working smoke alarms; plan and practice your home fire escape plan and know two ways out of every room, plus include a specific location outside to meet.