Awareness, caution and knowledge is what everybody needs to prevent burn accidents.
Keep matches, candles and lighters out of reach. Matches present a real challenge to a child's natural inquisitiveness- with tragic results in many cases.
A golden rule: never leave a child alone in a room with an open fire, burning candle or lamp. Such glowing objects are fascinating to a young child. They might also start a fire.
A dangling tablecloth is an exciting discovery. Use table mats instead.
Hot liquids or food placed near the edge of a table can scar for life. Always put them in the centre of the table.
Always turn saucepan handles towards the back of the stove. Teach children to stand well away - hot fat or oil causes severe burns.
Put baby a safe distance away when preparing hot meals. Never pass hot food over his head.
Never extinguish a fat or oil fire with water. Don't panic. Quickly switch off the stove and cover the pan with a lid, plate or wet cloth. Never use a broken or leaking paraffin or gas stove.
Put cold water into the bath first. Never leave small children unattended in a bathroom. They may turn on a hot tap before they know how to turn it off. Ignore the telephone or doorbell.
Never smoke in bed. Bedding can catch alight and start a fire which can claim the lives of your most precious possessions - your children.
Never pour inflammable liquids onto a fire especially when children are about. They like to imitate adults in this case with disastrous results.
Barbecue fires should be put out with water. Hot sand burns. Badly burned feet are no holiday treat. Children should never play around any fire places.
Do not overload power points. This can lead to a fire. Do not run electrical wires under carpets. Hidden wear and tear is dangerous.
Keep electrical cords short and out of reach. Never allow children to play with power points or electrical equipment. Repair faulty plugs and frayed cords immediately.
Never leave children alone in a car, disused or new. Get rid of that old car in the back yard.
A slight ignition could set the car ablaze in seconds. Never keep matches in the glove box.
Teach children not to play with fire or matches. Make sure they understand that matches are not toys and fires can burn.
Teach them to stay away from anything that can burn, heaters, fires, barbecues, lighted candles and irons.
Remember the sun can burn too. Hats and sunscreen creams are helpful, but exposure to the sun should be limited.
Emergency action
Teach a child to drop and roll on the floor if his clothing catches alight and to crawl on the floor to escape from thick smoke.
Emergency treatment
Minor burns:
Run under cold water until pain disappears.
Deep white burns:
Do not apply any agents to burnt areas. Cover with dry, clean sheet, seek medical aid immediately.
Chemical burns to skin:
Wash under fast, flowing water. - CAPFSA