Burns: Hot Water Safety

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KEY POINTS

• A child can get a severe burn after only a few seconds in hot water. These burns can be very painful and cause permanent scars.
• Hot water burns happen most often in the bathroom. Hot water burns can also happen in the kitchen.
• To prevent burns, learn how to make your home safer for your child.

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Hot water is very dangerous. A child can get a severe burn after only a few seconds in hot water. These burns can be very painful and cause permanent scars.

Hot water burns happen most often in the bathroom. An accidental fall into a tub of hot water can burn much of your child’s body. Babies and very young children are at the greatest risk because they are not able to get out of the water without help. Their skin is also more sensitive and burns easily.

Here are some ways to make your home safer for your child:

• Whenever you turn on water from a faucet, always turn the cold water on first, and then add hot water. If you have both cold and hot water faucets, turn the hot water off first. Teach your child to do the same.
• Always test the water before your child gets into the tub or shower. Bath water should be around 100°F (37.7°C). Water should feel warm, not hot, on your wrist or elbow.
• Don't let a young child touch faucet handles during a bath.
• Make sure all faucets are properly labeled as HOT or COLD.
• Don’t use a hot steam vaporizer. It can cause steam burns. Use a cool mist vaporizer instead.
• Never leave your child alone in the bathroom for any reason. Your child could get burned by hot water or drown.
• Set the thermostat on your water heater on low or no higher than 120°F (49°C). Dishes in the dishwasher and the clothes in the washing machine can still get clean in water at this temperature.
  • If you don't know where your water heater thermostat is or you don't know how to set the temperature, call your local utility company to adjust the thermostat. Some companies offer this service at no charge. If you live in an apartment or condo, contact the building manager.
  • After changing the thermostat setting, you can check the hot water temperature by holding a candy or meat thermometer under the faucet with the water running.
  • If you cannot change the temperature of the water heater, you can install antiscald devices on faucets and showerheads. These devices keep the water temperature from getting too hot.

Hot water burns can also happen in the kitchen. Here are some ways to make the kitchen safe:

• Never leave a boiling pot of water unattended.
• Turn handles of all pots and pans to the back of the stove so your child can't reach them. Use the back burners of the stove when possible. The best way to avoid accidents is to keep your baby in a playpen or highchair while you cook. Do not allow children to play on the kitchen floor while you are cooking or baking.
• Keep hot drinks out of reach of your child. When handling hot liquids or foods, check to see where your child is before you pick up the tea kettle or pan. You do not want to trip and spill anything hot on your child. Do not hold your child while carrying a hot liquid such as coffee or soup.

For more information, contact:

• Consumer Product Safety Commission
  800-638-2772
  https://www.cpsc.gov/