Every day, 435 children ages 0 to 19 are treated in emergency rooms for burn-related injuries and two children die as a result of being burned. Burn safety is a foreign concept to most young children. In fact, one of the most difficult lessons young children learn is that some things — such as stoves, radiators and flickering flames — can be painfully hot. If children play with matches or lighters, the threat can extend to the entire family.
The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week™ for more than 100 years —has announced “Cooking safety starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention TM” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 8-14, 2023. This year’s focus on cooking safety works to educate the public about simple but important steps they can take to help reduce the risk of fire when cooking at home, keeping themselves and those around them safe.
According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires, with nearly half (49 percent) of all home fires involving cooking equipment; cooking is also the leading cause of home fire injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires and related deaths. In addition, NFPA data shows that cooking is the only major cause of fire that resulted in more fires and fire deaths in 2014-2018 than in 1980-1984.
To learn more about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, “Cooking safety starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention,” visit FPW’s Website > >.
Source: National Fire Protection Association; Sparky.org
How to stay safe in the Kitchen:
Always keep a close eye on what you’re cooking. For foods with longer cook times, such as those that are simmering or baking, set a timer to help monitor them carefully.
Clear the cooking area of combustible items and keep anything that can burn, such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
Create a “kid and pet free zone” of at least three feet (one meter) around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
Did you know 47% of all home fires are caused by cooking? Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire!
Preventing a scald burn injury is always better than the pain and trauma of medical treatment afterward.
Follow these prevention tips:
Source: American Burn Association
Source: American Burn Association
If your food DOES catch on fire…
Source: American Burn Association
Did you know: Ordinary everyday things in and around your home (such as bath water, food, electrical outlets, firewood, mulch, leaves, debris, and other materials) can increase risks of fire and burns?
Follow these safety tips to prevent burns in the home:
Create a Wildfire Ready Plan – Be prepared to protect your home, family, pets, and neighbors!
Follow these safety tips to reduce the risk of wildfire in your community:
Source: Wildfire Ready Neighbors (wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov)
For more information on Outdoor Burns, visit: hiprc.org/campfire-safety.
While fireworks may be tempting to light, researchers and doctors say the injuries resulting from fireworks have the potential to be life-altering. Injuries resulting from mortars and shells tend to be MORE SEVERE resulting in amputations, or even permanent blindness.
Fireworks fire & injury facts:
To help prevent injuries from fireworks:
If you light fireworks:
Source: National Safety Council (NSC) and NFPA’s Fireworks Fires and Injuries report
Carbon monoxide, or “CO,” is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill you.
CO is found in fumes produced any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces. CO can build up indoors and poison people and animals who breathe it. Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Infants, the elderly, people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or breathing problems are more likely to get sick from CO. Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized.
The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are:
CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like.” If you breathe in a lot of CO it can make you pass out or kill you. People who are sleeping or drunk can die from CO poisoning before they have symptoms.
In your home:
For your vehicle:
Make sure your smoke and CO alarms meet the needs of all your family members – including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
Install smoke alarms and alert devices that alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing (these devices include strobe lights that flash to alert people when the smoke alarm sounds).
Pillow or bed shakers are also designed to work with your smoke alarms (these work by shaking the pillow or bed when the smoke alarm sounds).
These products can be found online or in retail stores that sell smoke alarms and CO alarms. Be sure to choose smoke alarms and accessories for people who are deaf or hard of hearing that are manufactured by a qualified testing laboratory.
It’s also good practice to sleep with your mobile phone and your hearing aids or implants close to your bed.
Follow these additional steps to ensure the safety of your household:
Source: National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA)
What you do to treat a burn in the first few minutes after it occurs can make a huge difference in the severity of the injury.
Immediate Treatment for Burn Victims
First-degree burns involve the top layer of skin. Sunburn is a first-degree burn.
Signs:
Treatment:
Information Courtesy: Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Fire Administration, American Academy of Pediatrics, Smokey for Kids
Second-degree burns involve the first two layers of skin.
Signs:
Treatment:
Information Courtesy: Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Fire Administration, American Academy of Pediatrics, Smokey for Kids
A third-degree burn penetrates the entire thickness of the skin and permanently destroys tissue.
Signs:
Treatment:
Information Courtesy: Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Fire Administration, American Academy of Pediatrics, Smokey for Kids
National Burn Awareness Week 2023 – (PDF)
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National Burn Awareness Week
Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire – (JPG) | (PNG)
Establish a Kid-free Zone – (JPG) | (PNG)
Never Hold a Child While Cooking – (JPG) | (PNG)
Check Baths for Hot Spots – (JPG) | (PNG)
Use Tight-fitting Lids – (JPG) | (PNG)
Always Open Lids Away from Your Body – (JPG) | (PNG)
Wear Oven Mitts – (JPG) | (PNG)
Never Hold a Child While Carrying Hot Foods – (JPG) | (PNG)
Never Hold a Child While Drinking Hot Liquids – (JPG) | (PNG)
Fireworks Safety
Have a SAFE & HAPPY 4th of July – (PDF) | (GIF) | (PNG) | (JPG)
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Cooking Safety for All – (PDF)
Cooking Safety for Older Adults – (PDF)
Nonfire Cooking Burns – (PDF)
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Use caution when handling fireworks – (PDF) | (GIF) | (PNG) | (JPG)
Fire Prevention & Burn Safety Tips
English – (PDF)
Prevención de Incendios & Consejos de Seguridad para las Quemaduras
Spanish / Español (PDF)
Предотвращение пожаров и советы по профилактике ожогов
Russian / Pусский – (PDF)
Mẹo Phòng Cháy và Ngăn Ngừa Bỏng
Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt – (PDF)
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Watch & share!
Think Twice Before You Use Fireworks – (Click to view)