The Dangers of Hot Liquids: How to Keep Children Safe This Winter
There’s nothing better than warming up with a hot cup of soup or cider when it gets cold outside. But, hot liquids can cause pediatric scald burns, with instant soups accounting for 1 in 5 pediatric scald burns every year. Seattle Children’s Hospital says, “Young children have thinner skin than older kids and adults, so they burn easier. Children ages 4 and under are at the most risk for scald burns because they like to explore and do not know what can hurt them.”
Why Hot Liquids are Dangerous for Young Children
Instant soups are responsible for nearly 10,000 pediatric burns every year. Pediatric burns happen fast, most within a matter of seconds. Seattle Children’s Hospital says, “Kids change so fast that parents and caregivers sometimes don’t know their child can reach hot liquids and foods that would have been at a safe distance only a short time before.”
Hot Liquid Facts:
Most burns affect the “trunk,” this is from the shoulders to the groin.
Most injuries happen to children between 4-7 years old.
Injuries include first-, second-, and third-degree burns.
Burns from noodles cause longer hospital stays than burns from other types of soups because noodles stay hotter longer.
Nearly 75% of all pediatric burns are preventable.
Why Children Get Pediatric Burns
Young children are especially curious, and most don’t know the meaning of the word hot. Children like to touch and taste anything they can get their hands on, so microwaves, countertops, tables, cups, bowls, and sinks quickly become dangerous. Children should always be supervised by an adult and kept away from hot liquids. Caregivers should also keep the floor clutter-free to avoid tripping and spilling hot liquids.