Burn Prevention

Serious burns can happen in the shower, while cooking and during other everyday household activities. In fact, about 75 percent of all burn injuries occur around the home. The good news is that most serious burn injuries can be prevented with a few simple precautions.

General Safety

• Install smoke detectors; check them every six months for effectiveness
• Teach children about fire safety and prevention
• Practice exit drills in the home on a regular basis with a central meeting spot identified outside
• Make sure everyone can unlock all locks and open all windows and doors quickly, even in the dark
• If a fire occurs, do not open doors if they are hot and crawl low to the ground in smoke
• Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths – do not smoke in bed
• Do not use flammable liquids in enclosed areas or near pilot lights or heater
• Do not use gasoline to burn trash, start outdoor grills, fireplaces, or wood burning stoves
• Do not burn aerosol cans
• Read labels of household cleaning items, and follow the instructions for use and storage

American Burn Association
Burn prevention tips from Association for Firefighters and Paramedics