Fire and Burn Safety in the Home

Burns and fires can happen in all rooms of the home and can result from a forgotten candle, cooking grease, the spilling of hot coffee, or a heating device. A burn happens when your body is damaged by heat, chemicals, electricity or sunlight. The most common burns are caused by scalding hot liquids, building fires and flammable liquids or gases.

House fires are most common during the winter months. Home fires can result in injuries, burns, and property damage. Because home fires can spread quickly, it is important to be prepared.

There are several different steps you can take to prevent injuries from fires:

• Properly install and maintain the smoke alarms in your home
• Smoke detectors should be on every level in the home and near all bedrooms
• Test your smoke alarms once a month to make sure they are working properly
• Have a fire escape plan so children and adults know what to do in case of a fire
• Use safe cooking practices such as having a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove

There are also several steps you can take to prevent scalding burns from hot liquids:

• Keep hot liquids, such as a cup of hot coffee, away from young children
• Turn all pot handles away from the stove’s edge
• Check the water heater temperature and make sure it is set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit
• Be sure to check out our other links to learn more prevention tips.

Learn more about Fire and Burn Safety with helpful links and PDFs

Did You Know?

• Every day, more than 300 children aged 0-19 are treated in emergency rooms across the country for burn-related injuries, and two children die as a result of being burned. (CDC)
• Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, accounting for more than 40%, resulting in high percentages of injury and death, and expensive property damage costs. (NFPA)
• 20% of all burn cases in the US are for children ages 4 and under, with scalds being the most common cause of burn related hospitalizations for young children. (Children’s Safety Network)