Body Watch : TIDBITS : How to Reduce the Risk of Burns for Your Kids

Childhood burns from household accidents all too often require a trip to the emergency room. Parents can drastically reduce the risk by taking small precautions:

* Unplug curling irons and clothing irons, both common sources of third-degree burns in children.

* Check buckles on car seat belts during warm weather.

* Don’t let children sit on kitchen counters while you are cooking.

If burns occur despite precautions, know first aid do’s and don’ts:

* Don’t apply first-aid creams, butter or toothpaste.

* Don’t break blisters.

* Do submerge a clean wash cloth or dish towel in cool water and apply it as a compress to the area. Change the compress every three to five minutes until the pain subsides.

* Do seek medical attention for large burns, burns that blister or any burns on the face or hands.

Sources: Beth Winokur, registered nurse and department manager, Grossman Burn Center at Martin Luther Hospital, Anaheim; “The American Medical Assn. Encyclopedia of Medicine,” (Dorling Kindersley Limited and AMA, 1989).