Burn Awareness Week is observed the first full week of February. Follow these safety tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent members of your household from sustaining burns.
- Be “alarmed.” Install and maintain smoke alarms in your home — on every floor and near all bedrooms. Test your smoke alarms once a month to make sure they are working properly. Consider using long-life batteries.
- Have an escape plan. Create and practice a family fire escape plan and involve kids in the planning. Make sure everyone knows at least two ways out of every room and identify a central meeting place outside.
- Cook with care. Use safe cooking practices, such as never leaving food unattended on the stove. Also, supervise or restrict children’s use of stoves, ovens, and microwaves.
- Check water heater temperature. Set your water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Maintaining a constant thermostat setting can help control the water temperature throughout your home and prevent it from getting too high, potentially scalding infants and young children. Also remember to test the water at the tap.
