National Burn Awareness Week

This week, February 6-12, is National Burn Awareness Week, and it is a great time to focus on fire safety and prevention. On average, 18,300 Americans are injured, and over 3,500 die in fires each year. Now is the time to practice safety in heating your home and to understand how to prevent and treat burns. Being aware of your surroundings is the best way to reduce the likelihood of being burned. In the event someone is burned, it is important to know the steps for proper treatment.

• Be sure to keep hot foods, liquids, and appliances (such as a curling iron) away from tables or counter edges to avoid them being knocked over or pulled down.
• When using a heating pad, do not use for durations longer than 15-20 minutes and avoid placing objects on top of the pad.
• If someone is burned, treat it right away by applying cool water for 3-5 minutes, and then cover with a clean, dry cloth.
• Remove all clothing, diapers, jewelry, and metal from the burned areas.
• If a burn is severe or bigger than a fist, seek medical attention immediately.