Protecting your Kids from Burns (Part-1)
Burns are among the most common of childhood accidents. Burn risks abound luring kids everywhere in every household – from scalding water to a brewing dish. There is no way parents can eliminate all of them, no matter how extremely cautious they are. Babies and toddlers just cannot resist their tactile curiosity and their tender, sensitive skin is no match to such dangerous experiences.
Many minor burns are no reason for any concern as you can easily treat them at home. However, the ones that are more serious may require prompt medical attention. Listed below are a few basic precautions babysitters should take when kids are left to their care.
Familiarize the babysitter with all the burn risks of your home
It’s human to err, and babysitters too are human; they can make mistakes. A few moments of distraction on their part would allow ample time for a toddler to play with a hot kettle or iron. As a parent you know very well the risks lurking for kids in your home; it does not mean the sitter too is aware of them. Never mind paying the sitter for an extra hour, and use that time to familiarize her with all the burn risks of your home.
Do this with even a regular sitter you are happy with. This exercise may lead to the discovery of a couple of sources of danger that neither you nor she would have recognized earlier. Tell her it is important for her not to panic if your child suffers a burn. Impress upon her that taking full charge of the situation is what is high on your list of priorities: she can treat the burn promptly herself or call for professional help.
Basic burn prevention precautions
What follow are a few of the basic precautions for burn prevention; all babysitters would do well to observe and practice them in order to protect from burn accidents kids left to their care. Probably you know all of them, but your sitter may not. Spend time to walk her through all these precautions.
Many minor burns are no reason for any concern as you can easily treat them at home. However, the ones that are more serious may require prompt medical attention. Listed below are a few basic precautions babysitters should take when kids are left to their care.
Familiarize the babysitter with all the burn risks of your home
It’s human to err, and babysitters too are human; they can make mistakes. A few moments of distraction on their part would allow ample time for a toddler to play with a hot kettle or iron. As a parent you know very well the risks lurking for kids in your home; it does not mean the sitter too is aware of them. Never mind paying the sitter for an extra hour, and use that time to familiarize her with all the burn risks of your home.
Do this with even a regular sitter you are happy with. This exercise may lead to the discovery of a couple of sources of danger that neither you nor she would have recognized earlier. Tell her it is important for her not to panic if your child suffers a burn. Impress upon her that taking full charge of the situation is what is high on your list of priorities: she can treat the burn promptly herself or call for professional help.
Basic burn prevention precautions
What follow are a few of the basic precautions for burn prevention; all babysitters would do well to observe and practice them in order to protect from burn accidents kids left to their care. Probably you know all of them, but your sitter may not. Spend time to walk her through all these precautions.
- Keep out of reach of children matches, lighters and other ignition devices, chemicals and so on.
- Do not allow kids to fool around with electrical outlets, even when fitted with child safety covers.
- Do not allow children to play near live electrical cords or extension cords, even when the insulation is in excellent condition.
- Train and make kids to change into flame-resistant sleepwear before going to sleep, no matter how tired or cranky they are. Set the thermostat on the water heater to about 120 degrees F. This is hot enough for bathing but not hot enough to scald the skin.
- When getting a bath ready, first fill the cold water and then add the hot. This will allow for temperature control.
- Keep out of reach of kids the hot kettle or utensil used for treating yourself with a snack or hot drink.
- Never hold the child while heating anything in the kitchen.
The next post will deal with a few more aspects of burn care.
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