Home Safety Tips for Winter Primary Care Pediatrics Continuity Clinic Series 2010

Objectives Review the most common causes of injury at home during the winter months Provide education and resources for kids and families

Burn Hazards

Burns Burns are a leading cause of serious injury and death – 3 rd leading cause of death of children in the US 120,000 children (<20yrs) receive ED care for fire or burn related injuries each year Installed stove guard to prevent children from touching hot cooking surfaces

Scalding Burns Scalding injuries account for 65% of burns in children <5 yrs Increased scalding injuries in the winter months due to increased use of hot liquids (coffee, tea, etc) A key to prevention: keeping these out of reach! – Removing table cloths – Stove guards – Pushing heated items to the back of counter tops out of reach – Restrict use of step stools and climbing on chairs or other items Scalding injury due to spill of hot liquid. Pattern of burn can help distinguish from abuse

Water Temperature Hot water accounts for nearly 25% of all scald injuries The ideal temperature for home water heaters is 120 deg F (49 deg C) to reduce serious burns Injuries at various temps (from animal studies) – 111 deg F (44 deg C): took 6 hours of exposure to cause partial or full thickness burn – 120 deg F (49 deg C): took 10 minutes – 140 deg F (60 deg C): took 3 seconds

Christmas Tree Safety

33 million homes will have a Christmas tree this holiday season Christmas trees account for 250 fires, 14 deaths, 26 injuries and more than $13.6 million in property damage each year

Christmas Tree Safety Tree fires are typically due to shorts in electrical lights, open flame candles, lighters or matches The risk of fire is significantly increased if the tree is not fresh or dry

Christmas Tree Safety Prevention: – Artificial trees should be “Fire Resistant” – Purchase fresh live trees that do not easily shed needles – Place tree away from fireplaces, portable heaters or radiators – Cut a few inches off the tree; allows for better water absorption – Keep the water stand filled with water “A WET TREE IS A SAFE TREE” – From the US Fire Administration

Lights & Decorations Check all lights prior to hanging them to ensure all bulbs work and there are no frayed wires, loose connections, etc Only use certified outdoor lights outdoors Do not overload outlets Try to keep cords out of reach of children Injury due to child biting an electrical cord

Fire Safety Home Tips Smoke Alarms Fire Extinguishers Discuss fire safety Have a escape plan and practice Prevention, Prevention, Prevention!

US Fire Administration Website Kid friendly site that teaches about home safety Games, puzzles, and quizzes – (Click link to check out the site)

Family Resources Doernbecher Safety Center Legacy Emanuel Safety Store AAP Family Resource website US Fire Administration website

References American Academy of Pediatrics US Fire Administration Emergency care of moderate and severe thermal burns in children.