Burns are preventable. Find out how.

Transcription

1 Burns are preventable. Find out how. The at Arkansas Children s Hospital is the only burn specialty center in Arkansas, treating adult and pediatric burn injuries as well as other complex wound and skin diseases. The also has a comprehensive Outreach Program offering programs and information on burn prevention, burn survivors, emergency treatment and care of burns.

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3 Burns are preventable. Find out how. Burn injuries can be devastating, particularly when they happen to young children and older adults. But, most burns are preventable! Most burn injuries happen at home or during recreational activities, and it s not just children who are at risk. All ages are potential victims of a burn or may even be responsible for causing a burn injury. That means we all need to learn about burn prevention. Burn prevention is not difficult! We have lots of good tips for you, just keep flipping the pages... for your friend s and family s sake!

4 Burns are preventable. Teach your children what to do if their clothes catch on fire. Stop, Drop & Roll. Have a fire extinguisher(s) and know how to use it. It s good to have one in the garage and kitchen. Remember the PASS Method: Pull the pin. Aim the extenguisher at the base of the fire. Squeeze the handle. Sweep the extinguisher back and forth at the base of the fire. Never turn your back on the fire or get trapped. Have a home escape plan in the event of a fire. Have working smoke/fire alarms in your home. Replace your alarms every 10 years, or according to the manufacturer s directions. Check your alarms monthly. If your alarm uses removable 9-volt batteries, change them at least once a year. If the fire is growing out of control Leave the building & CALL 911!

5 Everyone is in danger of a hot tap water burn, but young children and adults are even more susceptible. Young children just know they can turn the water on and off. If it s too hot, they can get burned. Older adults may have problems with lack of sensation, loss of dexterity and slower reactions. Burn Injuries! From Hot Tap Water WHAT YOU CAN DO Turn hot water heaters down to about 120 F. If your hot water heater doesn t have a temperature setting, then look for the medium or warm setting - maybe even a silver line. Consult the manufacturer s instructions, or have a plumber set it for you. Consider scald preventing bath fixtures. It only takes 1 SECOND for hot tap water to burn a child. After the tub is filled, put your entire hand in the water and move it quickly back and forth for several seconds. If the water feels even a little bit hot, then it is definitely too hot for your child. Use a thermometer to confirm the water is not too hot. Never leave a child alone in the bathtub. Children can turn on the water if left alone. For a FREE bath card, contact the ACH at or @archildrens.org.

6 COOKING is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries. The kitchen can be one of the most dangerous rooms in the house. Unattended cooking is a leading cause of deadly house fires. STEPS TO SAFE COOKING 1. Make sure you have a working smoke/heat detector in the right place. 2. Keep an appropriate fire extinguisher handy. Make sure it s charged and learn how to use it. Burn Injuries! In the Kitchen 3. Watch what you heat: Stay in the kitchen with food that you fry, grill or boil. Turn off oven and stove if leaving the home for even short periods of time. 4. Have a no-go zone in your kitchen. This consists of 3 feet in front and on the sides of the oven or stove. 5. Use the back burners on the stove when possible, and keep pot handles turned in where children can t reach them. 6. Don t set hot objects on the edge of the table or counter-top where they can be pulled off. 7. When cooking with grease: Keep a lid that fits the pot close by. Use long pot holders. Make sure there are no children or pets underfoot. DO NOT use water or flour to snuff a grease fire. Instead, turn off the heat source and use a lid or an extinguisher if possible.

7 Did You Know? The ACH treats hundreds of children for scald burns each year, many from foods cooked in the microwave. Recommended cooking time (from packaging) is usually for 700 W microwaves. Following package cooking times in a microwave with higher wattage causes foods to be hotter than necessary and increases the risk of a scald burn injury. archildrens.org/burncenter

8 From Fireworks

9 Outdoor related fires are responsible for many admissions to the ACH. REMEMBER Alcohol and fires NEVER mix! Check for any burn bans in your area. Children need close supervision around any fires, including campfires and grills. Remember, they learn from you, so if you are playing around with fire, they may do the same. Never use fireworks or any type of accelerant such as gasoline, diesel or kerosene to start a fire. The misuse of these accelerants is responsible for many burn injuries. Make sure the fire is completely extiguished before leaving it. Ashes can stay hot for several days. Children often walk through them while playing, and burn their feet. Ensure nothing in the fire can explode - such as aeresol cans. Burn Injuries! While Outdoors

10 Heating-related equipment, such as space heaters, are a leading cause of house fires and fire-related injuries and death. Be smart while using them! WHAT YOU CAN DO Don t use an unsafe heater! If it s damaged in any way, place it out of service. Place the heater on a level, hard, nonflamable surface. Keep away from children and pets! Keep the heater at least 3 feet away from bedding, curtains, furniture and any other flammable materials. Don t leave the heater on when you are gone or asleep. Only use heaters designed for indoor use in your home or other enclosed area. Use a screen or glass doors when you light a fire in the fireplace. Have your chimney and fireplace cleaned and inspected yearly. Dispose of ashes properly. From Heating-Related Equipment

11 Smoking is a leading cause of house fires and associated burn injuries and death. WHAT YOU CAN DO Burn Injuries! From Smoking Never smoke indoors! Have a designated smoking area outside with an ash bucket available that s filled with sand and water. If you do smoke indoors: Never fall asleep in the bed while smoking Never drop ashes between the couch cushions. Need help quiting? Call 800-QUIT-NOW or go to stampoutsmoking.com Lock up your smoking materials where children can t access them. Never smoke in a home where oxygen is being used! Home oxygen use and smoking do not mix! Oxygen - even low-flow oxygen - is fuel for a fire that a cigarette can easily start.

12 Electrical hazards are everywhere! It s very easy for children to come in contact with electrical hazards unless we help protect them. Adults can also get in trouble when they forget to respect electricity. Here are some tips to help keep you safe... and alive! WHAT YOU CAN DO If there are infants and toddlers in the house cover outlets or use child-safe outlets. Be careful when using extension cords and power strips; it s easy to overload a circuit and start a fire. Keep electrical cords out of reach of children and pets; they can pull appliances off of a counter or bite into the cords. Take damaged electrical appliances out of service. Never try to do your own electrical wiring. From Electrical Appliances & Wires Be careful when working around powerlines, especially when using ladders or long poles. Be careful when using electricity around water.

13 From Juvenile Firesetting Curiosity is normal for a child, but playing with fire or firesetting is not. Children playing with fire is one of the most common cases of deadly home fires, and can lead to devastating burn injuries. F.I.R.E. (Firesetter Intervention, Referral and Education) is a burn prevention eduction and support program offered for children who set fires and for their families. Call 866-KID FIRE if you would like to refer a child for participation or if you would like to have a program in your area. WHAT YOU KNOW There is no such thing as just a little fire. Every deadly fire starts small. Don t wait for your child to outgrow firesetting - teach them safety now! if you feel you need help in teaching your child about fire safety, please call your local fire department or the F.I.R.E. Program in your area. Take the time to make your home a safer place by locking up all matches and lighters. Teach your children that fire is a tool for adults, and set a good example by using fire safely. 866-KID-FIRE

14 Resources There are thousands of resources on the internet about burn and fire prevention. You ll find Arkansas resources, national resources and other local/regional resources that may be helpful. SOME OF OUR FAVORITES Arkansas Children s Hospital archildrens.org/burncenter Arkansas Fire Prevention Commission arfireprevention.org Arkansas Firewise arkansasfirewise.com Arkansas Foresty Commission forestry.arkansas.gov Burn Institute burninstitute.org Burntalk burntalk.com Centers for Disease Control & Prevention cdc.gov Children s Burn Foundation childburn.org Consumer Product Safety Commission cpsc.gov Fireproof Children fireproofchildren.com Fire Smart befiresmart.com Firewise firewise.org Home Fire Drill homefiredrill.org The Idea Bank theideabank.com National Fire Protection Association nfpa.org National Safety Council nsc.org Phoenix Society phoenix-society.org Safe Kids USA safekids.org Smokey Bear smokeybear.com Sparky sparky.org US Fire Administration usfa.fema.gov 1 Children s Way, Slot 210, Little Rock, AR archildrens.org/burncenter This is not an all inclusive list. The has no control over any of the content that doesn t belong to Arkansas Children s Hospital.

15 EMERGENCY Treatment of Burns 1. Remove the person from the source of heat (flame, electrical or chemical). 2. If clothing is on fire, get the peron on the ground and smother the fire with blankets. Help them STOP, DROP & ROLL. 3. Run cool water over the burn. 1 minute for a child less than one year old 5 minutes for all other age groups At least 20 minutes for chemical burns 4. Remove jewelry or clothing that may be hot or get tight as the burn area begins to swell. 5. DO NOT apply creams or lotions before going to the doctor. NEVER apply butter, oil, mustard, egg whites, etc. DO NOT use ice! 6. Wrap wound with a clean, dry cloth. If the burn covers a large area, sheets or blankets may be need to keep the patient warm. 7. Seek medical attention immediately and keep in mind: The longer the contact with a heat source, the deeper the burn. Burn victims lose their body heat and get cold quickly. Use only enough water to stop the burning process. Extra water is not helpful. Prompt and appropriate treatment can affect patient outcome by minimizing the amount of tissue lost, the amount of time spent in the hospital and scarring. 1 Children s Way, Slot 210, Little Rock, AR archildrens.org/burncenter 866-KID-FIRE

16 1 Children s Way, Slot 210, Little Rock, AR archildrens.org/burncenter