Burns in children and how to prevent them - special situations

Hot water, heated objects or pyrotechnics are common causes of burns in children. However, the possibility of burns as a consequence of solar radiation should be kept in mind as well.

Special caution when cooking:

When cooking, always be near the stove/oven and never leave the food that is being cooked unattended! The handles of saucepans, pots, frying pans, coffee pots should always be turned towards the wall when they are on the stove, to make them inaccessible to the child. What else can you do:

  • Monitor and limit the use of the stove, microwave and other heating devices by older children. 
  • Whenever possible, cook food on the hotplate that is further away.
  • Young children and babies should not be near the stove or in the kitchen!
  • Never carry the child and a container with hot liquid or food at the same time!
  • Never leave hot food and liquids unattended near children!
  • Never put hot food on a table with a tablecloth that the child can pull!
  • Do not leave a young child unattended in a room where there is an open heat source (e.g. an iron turned on) or in which something is cooking! 
  • Teach older children how to properly handle heating devices and limit their use.

Special caution when bathing:

  • Check the water temperature before bathing children!
  • Limit the maximum water temperature in your water heater — set the thermostat to max. 60oC.
  • If you bathe a baby or a child, always turn on cold water first, and then warm water.
  • Before putting the baby in the bath, be sure to check water temperature and never leave the baby unattended in the bath!

Pyrotechnics are not for children! 

Do not allow children to play with sparklers on their own, while the use of firecrackers and fireworks is something you should not allow to your children!

Make the child's time in the sun safe!

Protect your child by avoiding sun exposure between 10 AM and 5 PM, using adequate head protection (cap or wide-brimmed hat), light-colored clothing, sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection and high sun protection factor sunscreens (over 30) which are specifically intended for children's skin and which should be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.