Keeping Kids Safe & Scald-Free

10/04/2010

Riley Hospital launches scald prevention training during Fire Prevention Week

INDIANAPOLIS - With scalds continuing as the leading cause of admission to Riley Hospital for Children's Burn Care Unit, the Riley Safety Store is teaming up with the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) to protect kids and help prevent burn injuries.

During National Fire Prevention Week (October 3-9), the Riley Safety Store Team will begin training DCS caseworkers on scald prevention. The training will cover the most common childhood home injuries, the latest Riley Hospital burn admission data and a demonstration of scald prevention products. Through prevention funding, DCS was able to partner with the Riley Safety Store to purchase scald prevention products, some of which include bath buddy thermometers, stove knob covers, oven front locks and stove guards. Once trained, DCS caseworks will be able to educate families directly, give them the products for free and teach parents how to use the products in their own homes.

According to a new study[1], 36 percent of children admitted to Riley Hospital's Burn Care Unit from 2005-2008 had some type of scald burn and 69 percent of those admissions were caused by hot liquids in the kitchen. Data also shows that preschool children (ages 0-4) are the most vulnerable and have the highest risk of burn injuries.

"DCS and Riley Hospital have enjoyed a long partnership - but this training in particular allows us to have an immediate impact on preventing child injuries," said Jennifer Hubartt, regional manager at the Marion County DCS Office. "As opposed to a safety video or a brochure, we can engage families directly on the real dangers that exist in their homes and then leave them with tangible, easy-to-use products to keep their kids safe."

"Children have thinner skin than adults, which means they scald faster, deeper and at lower temperatures," said Karen Bruner Stroup, director of Riley's Community Education and Child Advocacy Department. "We have always pushed this message at the Riley Safety Store, but now through these trained DCS caseworkers, we can reach even more families, share this important message with them and hopefully prevent further scald burn injuries to children."

INTERVIEWS:

• Cara Fast, manager of the Riley Safety Store, will be one of the trainers
• Jennifer Hubartt, regional manager at the Marion County DCS Office
• Peggy Surbey, deputy director of the Marion County DCS

Here are some tips to help prevent serious scald burns to children:

KITCHEN SAFETY

• Turn pot and pan handles inward on your stove, kitchen counter, or table to be out of reach of a child.
• Hot liquids (i.e. hot beverages, soups) and steam (i.e. microwave popcorn) cause most scald burns in the kitchen. Let items cool a few minutes first before taking out of the microwave.
• Stir and test (by touch or taste) the temperature of food or beverages before giving to your child to eat or drink.

BATHROOM SAFETY

• Never leave an infant or child alone in a bathtub or sink. Take the child out of the water and with you if you need to leave the room for any reason.
• Check the temperature of a child's bath water. Use a bath tub thermometer to help you make sure the water is no warmer than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Water that seems cool enough may be too hot for a child.
• Turn the water on in the sink for your child to brush his teeth or wash his hands to help prevent accidental scalding.

GENERAL SAFETY

• Turn down the temperature of your water heater or install a hot water control on your faucets. Set your water heater to no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Talk to your child's care provider about practicing safety during bathing and preparing food.
• Teach your children these important safety tips to prevent scald burns:
• Do not touch handles of pots and pans on the kitchen stove, countertop, or on the table.
  • Do not touch any sink or bathtub faucet.
  • Tell your parent or babysitter if bath tub water is too hot or if food or liquids are too hot.

The Riley Safety Store launched in 2005 as the first children's hospital-based safety store in the nation to serve families of all children, including children with disabilities or special health care needs. With a mission to make safety affordable and accessible to all Hoosier families and their children, the store offers low-cost child safety products and injury prevention education. The Riley Safety Store staff is trained to teach parents and children how to properly use and maintain safety products and practice child safety.

The Riley Safety Store was created and is managed by Riley Hospital's Community Education and Child Advocacy Department, in partnership with The Cheer Guild, a volunteer auxiliary and nonprofit organization that supports Riley and Indiana University Hospitals.

About Riley Hospital for Children
As one of the nation's leading pediatric hospitals and Indiana's first and only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital for Children, a part of Clarian Health, has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families for 85 years. Each year, Riley Hospital and Riley Hospital at Clarian North serve over 215,000 inpatients and outpatients from across Indiana, the nation and the world. Riley Hospital's partnership with Clarian Health, and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine, makes it the only comprehensive clinical resource for Indiana's children and the premiere source for health-related information for their parents. From simple care associated with the health and wellness of children and less complex specialty care to the most critically-ill and medically complex cases, Riley Hospital for Children is a national leader. Clarian Health operates the Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children campuses as a single hospital under Indiana law. Visit Riley Hospital for Children for more information.