Preventing Scald Burns to Children

Despite being entirely preventable, scald burns are a leading cause of injury in the US. Sadly, they are especially common among small children, and often more severe. Children under the age of 5 or so often have thinner, less developed skin than adult. A burn that would be minor on an adult can be a dangerous injury for a child.

If you have a small child in your family, or if you work with children, it is very important to know how to prevent scalding. If your child has suffered one of these painful injuries while in someone else’s care, call Jacksonville scalding injury lawyer Don Guthrie at 904-296-1088 to see if you have grounds for a personal injury claim.

Important safety tips for avoiding scald burns include:

• Keep your home’s water temperature low. Your water heater should not reach a temperature above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Water above that temperature can severely burn children in a matter of seconds.
• Always test liquids’ temperature. Whether you are drawing a bath, heating formula, or preparing a meal for a child, make sure it is a safe temperature all the way through. It is important to remember that microwaves can cause food to be warm on the outside but dangerously hot in the center.
• In the kitchen, keep boiling liquids at a safe distance from children. Do not place them at the edge of a table or counter where a child can pull them off. A small child should never be left unsupervised in the kitchen for any length of time.

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You may be able to win compensation for medical treatment and related experience if your child has been injured by someone else’s negligence. For the knowledgeable legal advice you need, contact Jacksonville burn injury lawyer Don Guthrie at 904-296-1088.