Thousands of scald burns occur annually and the two high risk populations are children under the age of 5 and adults over 65.
Did you know...
	•	Hot liquids can cause life-threatening burn injuries.
	•	Scalds are the number one cause of burn injury to children under age 4.
	•	Burn accidents frequently occur when parents or caregivers are in a hurry, angry or under a lot of pressure.
	•	Coffee, tea, soup and hot tap water can be hot enough to cause a serious burn injury.
	•	Scald and steam burns are often associated with microwave oven use.
	•	When hot tap water reaches 140° F, it can cause a full-thickness, third-degree burn in just five seconds.
	•	Hot tap water accounts for 17% of all childhood scald hospitalizations.
	•	Most scald injuries can be prevented.

Prevent scalding:
	•	Keep hot foods and drinks away from the edge of tables and counters. Do not put them on a tablecloth that little hands can pull.
	•	If you're holding something hot, don't hold your child too.
	•	When you cook, keep your child away from the stove. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. If possible, use rear burners.
	•	Watch for dangling appliance cords.
	•	Avoid heating a child's bottle in the microwave.  If you do, shake the bottle, and test its contents before giving it to a child.
	•	Open hot containers away from you.  Steam can burn.
	•	Lower the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
	•	Alway test bath water with your elbow or wrist before placing a child in the tub.  Also, never leave a child alone in the tub.

Prevent burns:
	•	Keep curling irons, toasters, irons, and other heated appliances out of the reach of children.
	•	Keep all electric appliances away from sinks and the tub.
	•	Keep all electric cords out of the reach of children.  Children can be shocked by chewing on the cords, or burned by the appliance when the cord is pulled.
	•	Make certain all appliances are UL listed.
	•	Use ground fault interrupters in the kitchen and bathrooms to prevent electrocution.
	•	Keep matches and lighters out of a child's reach.

To learn more about burns and scalds prevention visit the Shriners Hospitals' Burn Prevention page.