At least 50% of all accidents caused by burns can be prevented, according to the Philadelphia-based Burn Foundation.

According to a study conducted several years ago by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, scalds are the leading cause of accidental death from birth to age four in the home and account for 40% of the burn injuries among children up to the age of 14.

“We see an increase in the number of children who are burned in the winter, but the good news is that preventive efforts can greatly reduce the number of burn accidents,” according to Patsy Porter, president and CEO of the Burn Foundation.

The primary causes change as we go through life. Children two and under are more likely to be injured by hot objects or liquids and hospitalized for burns to their hands and wrists.

Older children, from three to 17, are more likely to be injured by fire. According to the National Burn Information Exchange, after the age of 60, the most common causes of burns are from flame or scalding, bathing, falling asleep while smoking, or lighting a furnace or trash fires. The Burn Foundation offers the following safety tips:

• Buy Flameless Candles: They give a nice glow and can’t cause burns or fire. Never leave a burning candle unattended or use around pets, children or flammable objects.
• Set Your Hot Water Heater no higher than 120 Degrees: Water can scald at temperatures of 130 degrees and above. Since many thermostats are not well-calibrated, check the temperature with a thermometer.
• Always Check the Temperature of Food Before Giving It to a Child:  Be particularly careful when microwaving foods, which can still burn when placed in the mouth or spilled on the skin even if the outside does not feel hot to the touch. Never heat infant formula in a microwave. 
• Be Careful of Steam: It only takes seconds to be scalded by steam.
• Declare a “Kid-Free” Zone: Keep children at least three feet away from the stove and any other area where hot food or liquids are being prepared. Never hold a child while cooking, drinking, or carrying foods or liquids that have been heated.
• Practice Pot and Pan Safety: When young children are present, try only to use the stove’s back-burners. And regardless of who’s in the kitchen, always turn handles toward the back of the stove so that they can’t be pulled down or knocked over.
• Take Special Care Around Fireplaces: Have the fireplace inspected before using it each season, be sure the flue is open, and avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing. Always use a screen and, if you also have glass doors, keep your children away from it as the glass can reach 1200 degrees.

While prevention is always best, here’s what you should keep in mind if you or a family member is burned:

• Cool the burn with lukewarm water.
• Do not use butter or ice as these can make a burn worse. 
• Remove any garments or jewelry – the burn will swell.
• After cooling, wrap the burn with a clean dry cloth.
• Contact your physician and remembers that all burns sustained by children require medical treatment.

For more information call the Burn Foundation at 215-545-3816 or visit www.burnfoundation.org.