It’s Burn Awareness Week, and Prince William fire and rescue wants to help you prevent burn injuries.
The Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue has teamed up with the American Burn Association, the International Association of Firefighters and several other organizations to launch an information campaign on scald burns.
According to Prince William fire and rescue, more than 450,000 burn injuries happen in the United States each year – with almost 30% of them being scald burns.
“Scalds are just one of several burning issues in which health and safety officials have joined forces as advocates for public education in the prevention of burn injuries. Help us, help you, by being ‘Burn Aware,’” stated Prince William County Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin McGee in a release.
More from Prince William fire and rescue on how to prevent burn injuries:
Set your water heater at 120 degrees F/48 degrees C or just below the medium setting.
Use a thermometer to test the water coming out of your bath water tap.
Run your hand through bath water to test for hot spots.
Use back burners and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so children cannot pull them down.
Use oven mitts when cooking or handling hot food and drinks.
Stir and test food cooked in the microwave before serving. Open heated containers away from you from back to front.
Keep children away from the stove when cooking by using a safety gate for younger children and marking with tape a 3-foot “no-kid zone” for older children.
Keep hot drinks away from the edge of tables and counters and avoid using tablecloths and placemats.
Use a “travel mug” with a tight-fitting lid for all hot drinks.
Never hold or carry a child while you have a hot drink in your hand.
