Safety officials offer tip to prevent burns to children

MARYSVILLE — Local safety experts want to remind parents that it’s National Burn Awareness Week.

Burns are one of the top reasons children have to go to the emergency room, said Kristen Thorstenson, a spokeswoman for the Marysville Fire District. Hot liquids often are the culprit, mostly from cooking and drinking.

Injuries also are common from hot foods coming out of the microwave, or from children carrying hot liquids, she said.

Safe Kids Snohomish County and the Marysville Fire District offer the following burn prevention tips for parents:

•In the kitchen, keep children at least 3 feet from hot appliances, pots and pans. Watch out for tablecloths that children can pull, causing hot food to spill on them. Try to keep pans on the back burners of the stove, and always turn pot handles to the back of the stove. Never hold a child while cooking or holding something hot.

In the bathroom, always test the bath water before plunking in a child. Set the water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Water coming from the faucet any hotter than that can create a serious risk for burns for children, Thorstenson said.

For more information about National Burn Awareness Week, go to the American Burn Association’s website at www.ameriburn.org.