Fire safety tips
The Forsyth County Fire Department has provided the following tips for keeping kids safe at home:
• Keep children at least 3 feet from hot appliances, pots, pans or food.
• Use spill-resistant mugs when drinking hot liquids around children.
• Avoid using tablecloths or anything a child can pull on and cause hot food to spill.
• When cooking, use back burners and keep pot handles turned toward the back of the stove.
• Always tuck cords from appliances where they are out of the reach of children.
• Never hold a child when cooking something hot.
The Forsyth County Fire Department is reminding the public of ways to avoid burn injuries as part of Burn Awareness Week, which runs Sunday-Feb. 11.
Officials note that children, especially those younger than 4, “may not perceive danger, have less control of their environment, may lack the ability to escape a life-threatening burn situation and may not be able to tolerate the physical stress of a burn injury.”
According to Safe Kids USA, hot water accounts for nearly half of all scald burns among children 5 or younger.
In addition, 90 percent of all burn injuries to children in that age range are scalds or contact burns.
Children may suffer worse injuries than adults because they have thinner skin. The most common rooms where children are scalded are the kitchen, dining room and bathroom.
The department recommends calling 911 in an emergency.