Prevent Burns – Save Our Children
1. Supervise children constantly – esp. around stoves, ovens, heaters, open fires, gas burners and candles.
2. Lock matches and cigarette lighters up high and out of reach.
3. Keep pot / pan handles turned inward- so they may not accidentally be pulled down by a curious child or knocked off the stove.
4. Do not leave the cord of a kettle or any electrical appliance with boiling water or food hanging. A child may pull on the cord overturning the burning substance onto himself.
5. Don’t cook, drink or carry hot food or drinks while holding a child.
6. Block access to the stove and fireplace.
7. Always know where your children are and what they are doing.
8. Never allow small children to remove food from the oven.
9. Keep chemical solutions away from children.
10. Do not put hot food / fluids on a tablecloth with loose hanging tips. A child can pull on the cloth causing the hot food to topple down on him.
11. Test the temperature of your child’s bath water before putting him in the bath.
12. Never leave a tub of hot water unattended.
General Rules for the Home
1. Have a fire escape plan and ensure that everyone in the house knows how to follow the plan.
2. Make sure that there are two exits to every room and keep them clear.
3. If there is a fire in your home, get out and stay out. Go to a predetermined meeting place.
4. Do not consume alcohol or other intoxicants close to an open fire or when handling gas.
5. If your clothes catch fire, ‘stop, drop and roll’.
6. Extinguish a small fire on a stove by sliding a lid over the flames.
7. Remove all faulty electrical wiring e.g. fraid cords from the home.
8. Don’t smoke in bed.
9. Extinguish barbeque fires with water.
10. Stand back from a hot pot when removing the lid.
11. Be extra careful when pouring hot liquids.
12. Stand candles up in a container with sand. If a candle should fall over the sand will extinguish it.
First Aid for Burns (at home)
1. Remove the burn victim from the burn site. Make sure the area is safe so there is no further risk of injury.
2. Remove the victim’s clothing immediately – only if not stuck to the skin.
3. Cool the burn wound with cold running tap water for 10-20 min.
4. Cover the burn with a loose, light, non-sticky dressing e.g. cling wrap or a clean, wet cloth.
5. Flush chemical burns with water for at least 10 min.
6. In case of electrical burns – switch off the current at the main switch before touching the victim.
7. Seek immediate medical help.
Emergency numbers: Fire brigade 10177, or 112 from a cell phone.
