11 Ways to Stay Safe from Fire Hazards

You Can Prevent These Common Causes of Burns

Beware the seeming ease of the microwave when it comes to kids.

The most common cause of burn injury in children is scalding from cooking, often in the microwave, says Katie Hollowed, RN, MSN, Burn Program Manager of the South Carolina Burn Center at the Medical University of South Carolina.

"What we often see at the Burn Center is that a child heats noodles or similar in the microwave, then takes out the dish but it's so hot they drop it, suffering a scald burn from the liquid as well as a contact burn from the noodles," says Katie, who is a leader in burn nursing care.

"Please supervise children when they use the microwave."

Scalding from hot liquids such as coffee, tea, and hot water are another major cause of burns in children.

The majority of adult burn injuries in South Carolina are flame-related, including those from outdoor burning of leaves and trash, house fires, and grills.

"It's legal to burn trash and leaves in parts of South Carolina," says Katie with dismay. "This practice can result in injuries with devastating results. Even with a little pile of leaves, if the wind picks up or shifts and you're standing in the wrong spot, it can be disastrous. Many people start this type of fire with gasoline. When it erupts in flames, they're right beside it. It's a dangerous activity."

The South Carolina Burn Center at MUSC —the state's first and only comprehensive burn center— has admitted and treated close to 350 patients a year since opening in June 2020. The Center's multidisciplinary team follows each patient closely from acute injury to rehabilitation.

To mark Fire Prevention Week (October 9 through 15) and draw attention to safety and prevention measures, Katie outlines some of the top burn hazards and how to avoid them.

Have an Escape Plan No Matter Where You Are

The theme for 2022's Fire Prevention Week, "Fire won't wait. Plan your escape," is a reminder to plan for escape no matter where you are, says Katie, who has more than 40 years of experience in burn treatment and community outreach.

• Practice a fire escape plan at home with your children.
  
  • Teach your children to crawl to the exits if there's smoke in the room. Staying below the smoke helps avoid breathing it in.
  • Agree on a safe meeting spot outside.
  • Remind kids to stop, drop, and roll if their clothing is on fire.
• When you check into a hotel, look for the closest emergency exit to your room. Read the emergency evacuation instructions on the inside of your hotel door.
• Take note of fire exits in offices and public buildings, too. "At the beginning of meetings in offices or other buildings, a designated person should point out the closest exits in case of a fire," advises Katie.

Keep Kids Safe from Burns

• Create a kid-free safety zone of six feet of space around the stove. Make sure children know not to enter this zone when someone is cooking.
• Keep hot pans and food out of children's reach. "Turn pot handles in and away from the edge of the stove so kids don't reach for them," says Katie. Do not put hot foods or liquids near the edge of counters or tables.
• Supervise microwave cooking to be sure items are not too hot for kids to handle. Because microwaves can heat unevenly, always check heated foods.
• Heat baby bottles in a pan of warm water instead of in the microwave. Check the temperature on the inside of your wrist.
• Test the bath water with your wrist before putting a baby in the tub.
• Keep hot water heaters set to a maximum of 120°F.

Other Fire Hazards You Can Prevent

• Do any open burning (allowed by some local ordinances in South Carolina) in a small, contained area cleared of debris.
  
  • "If you must do it, do it on an area of dirt," says Katie.
  • Never burn near a house or structure that can catch fire.
  • Do not burn on a windy day.
  • Do not use an accelerant like gasoline.
• Know how to put out a grease fire:
  • Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. Leave the cover on until the pan has cooled.
  • Turn off the stove.
  • If the fire is small, try to smother it with baking soda or salt. Do not use flour.
  • Do not use water to try to put out the fire.
  • Do not take the pan or pot outside.

Heads up, says Katie: You have time to brush up on fire safety before the holidays, when most home cooking fires occur. Thanksgiving and the day before are peak days, followed by Christmas Eve and Christmas.