Most burns in the home that require hospitalisation are house fires, however kids are also often hospitalised by contact burns – commonly caused by flammable liquids, heaters, barbeques and irons.

These injuries can scar for life; the tragedy is, many are easily preventable. 

Misuse of flammable liquids and aerosols is the number one cause of contact burns; those injured are usually children aged 10 to 14.  Store these products out of reach and teach kids not to play with them.

Clothing catching alight is another major risk, particularly with loose-fitting girls’ nighties which ‘twirl’ into heaters. The most important thing you can do is put fireguards around open fires and heaters. Watch out for anything else that might be unexpectedly hot like bedside lamps. Keep kids away from barbeques, candles, lighters and matches and teach them the dangers of heat and fire.

If clothes catch alight, stop the child from running - and roll them on the ground to put out the flames. A fire blanket or wool blanket will help. Cool the burns straight away under cool running water for at least 20 minutes. Don’t use ice, butter or ointment and take off any clothes not stuck to the skin. Take your child to your doctor or hospital or in an emergency call 111 for an ambulance.

 

6 simple steps to keep kids safe from burns:

1. Install fixed guards around your heaters.

 

Put fireguards around open fires and electric or gas heaters – whether wall-mounted or portable.  Oil-filled column heaters get very hot and can burn too, especially if a toddler holds on to the heater to pull themselves up.

2. Buy ‘low fire danger’ clothing.

 

All fabric will burn, but you can choose close-fitting clothes, especially nightwear, made from fabrics that are slow to burn. Look for the ‘Low fire danger’ or ‘Styled to reduce fire danger’ label.

3. Safe guard your oven.

 

Fit a stove guard to stop children reaching pans and hotplates. An oven door guard will prevent kids burning fingers on the oven door or climbing up onto the door. Fix your stove to the floor or wall. Children have died from opening and standing on the oven door, toppling the stove onto themselves.

 

4. Keep kids away while you iron.

 

Keep irons out of reach until they’ve cooled down. If you can, put your child in a playpen while you iron; some people put the ironing board inside the playpen.
 

5. Watch kids closely around barbeques.

 

Barbeques are a common cause of burns. Never use petrol or any other flammable liquid to light a fire.

6. Don’t hold a child when you’re smoking.

 

Kids suffer burns from cigarettes when they walk into or are bumped by adults holding cigarettes.

 

 

Further information

 

The New Zealand Fire Service has a kids’ section on their website, full of information for children on being fire-wise.

St John's Ambulance New Zealand holds first aid and resuscitation (CPR) courses so you know what to do in the first few moments of an emergency.