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PREVENTING BURNS AT HOME Burn
injuries in the home can be prevented:
In the kitchen
· Unattended cooking is the leading cause of
kitchen fires. Stay nearby at all times when cooking, even with microwave ovens.
· Keep children and pets away
from cooking food. Enforce a "kid-free zone" of 3 feet (1 meter) around your
stove when cooking.
· Wear clothes with
tight-fitting sleeves, or roll your sleeves up to reduce the risk of your clothing
catching fire.
· Turn pot handles inward.
Never leave them sticking out where they could be bumped or grabbed by a small child.
· Don't leave spoons or other
utensils in pots while cooking.
· Turn burners and ovens off when they're not in use.
· Keep plenty of sturdy oven
mitts or pot holders near your cooking area. Using a wet pot holder can result in a severe
steam burn.
· Do not toss wet foods into deep-fat fryers or frying pans containing hot grease or oil.
The violent reaction between the fat and water will splatter hot oil.
· Remove the lids from pots of
cooking liquids carefully to prevent steam burns. Remember, steam is hotter than boiling
water.
· If a pan of food catches
fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan and turn off the burner. It is dangerous to
attempt to carry the pan to the sink.
· In microwave ovens,
use only containers designed for microwave use. Let microwave-cooked foods or liquids cool
before carefully removing their covers.
· If you turn microwave foods
during their cooking cycle, remember that the oven may be cool but the containers and food
are very hot.
Hot water
· Adjust your water-heater's thermostat to no
more than 120 F (49 C) to prevent scalds.
· Always turn on the cold
water faucet first, then add hot.
Child safety
· Keep matches and lighters out of children's
reach - up high, preferably in a locked cabinet. Use only child-resistant lighters.
· Do not allow children to
play near woodstove or fireplace fires or around working space heaters.
· Cover unused wall outlets
with safety caps and replace all damaged, frayed, or brittle electrical cords.
· Do not leave hot irons
unattended.
· Do not leave barbecue grills
unattended, and supervise children's cookout activities, such as toasting marshmallows.
· Teach your children that
steam radiators, stove burners, irons, and other familiar household objects are sometimes
hot and can burn them.
· Test bath water by carefully
circulating hand and lower arm through it before putting children in the bathtub. Provide
constant supervision while bathing children.
Types of Burns
There are seven common
types of burns
· Flame burns, caused by direct
contact the with fire.
· Radiation burns, caused by
close exposure to fire or high heat.
· Scalds, caused by hot liquids
or steam.
· Contact burns, the result of
touching hot objects.
· Chemical burns, caused by
contact with corrosive chemicals, such as battery acid.
· Electrical burns, caused by
contact with live electrical wires.
· Ultraviolet burns, caused by
over exposure to the sun or to sun lamps.
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A
matter of degrees
Burns
are classified by the amount of damage done to the skin and other body
tissue. Every family member should be able to identify the severity of
burns and know how to treat them.
First-degree
burns are minor and heal quickly. Symptoms: reddened skin;
tender and sore.
Second-degree
burns are serious injuries and require immediate first aid and
professional medical treatment. Symptoms: blistered skin; very
painful.
Third-degree
burns are severe injuries and require immediate professional medical
treatment. Symptoms: white, brown, or charred tissue, often
surrounded by blistered areas; little or no pain at first.
If your
clothing catches fire: Stop, drop, and roll
The severity of injury caused by burning clothing can be reduced by
following these three simple steps.
Stop:
Don't run.
Drop:
Drop immediately to the floor.
Roll:
Cover your face with your hands and roll over and over to smother the
flames.
First
aid for burns
Cool
the burn: For first- and second-degree burns, cool the burned area -
preferably with cool running water for 10 to 15 minutes. This lowers the
skin temperature, which stops the burning process, numbs the pain, and
prevents or reduces swelling. Third-degree burns require immediate
medical attention.
Remove
burned clothing: Lay the victim flat on his or her back. Burned
clothing may be stuck to the victim's skin. Unless material is on fire
or smouldering, do not attempt to remove it. Remove jewelry or
tight-fitting clothing from around burned areas before swelling begins
and, if possible, elevate the injured areas.
Cover
the burn: After a first- or second-degree burn has been cooled,
apply a clean, dry dressing to the burned area.
Don't
apply butter or any other grease (including medicated ointments) on
a burn. Grease holds in heat, which could make the injury worse.
Don't
break blisters: This could allow germs to enter the wound.
Treat
for shock: To reduce the risk of shock, keep the victim's body
temperature normal. Cover unburned areas with a dry blanket.
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