Protect your family from holiday-related burns

The holidays are a time for home-cooked treats and holiday decorations — such as lights, candles and Christmas trees — which add a festive and joyous mood to the season. But, all of these things can pose burn dangers for you and your family.

“Kids are curious by nature and have a greater risk of getting burned. The excitement of the holidays increases their risk even more. Because their skin is thinner than adults, it takes less heat with a shorter exposure time to create a burn of greater severity in a child,” said Robert Bonillas, M.D., a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon on the medical staff at St. Luke’sMedicalCenterand Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital.

Taking steps to keep your home safe during the holiday season is crucial. Here are seven tips to protect your family from burn-related injuries:

1. Create a “kid-free kitchen zone.” This will lessen the possibility that children will reach for a simmering pot on the stove or grab the cord of an appliance filled with hot liquids.

2. Avoid using tablecloths and table runners around young children. This will help prevent children from pulling on the fabric and spilling hot liquids or foods.

3. Keep burning candles out of the reach of children. Battery-operated flameless candles are a safer alternative altogether.

4. When buying a live Christmas tree, opt for a fresh, green one. Also, keep the tree moist by providing water on a regular basis.

5. Place the Christmas tree in a safe location. Trees should be at least three feet away from any heat source to avoid the risk of a fire. This includes fireplaces and heater vents.

6. Choose safe lights. Install lights in the appropriate location, whether indoors or outdoors. Also, make sure the lights have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.

7. Unplug lights at bedtime and when leaving the house. Lights can get hot enough to burn or ignite other decorations, or they may short and cause an electrical fire.

Even when precautions are taken, sometimes accidents happen. It’s important to know what to do in the case of a burn.

First aid for minor burns

Minor burns are defined as those that cover a small area, less than three inches in diameter.

Do:

• Apply cold water immediately for approximately 15 minutes. This helps lessen the pain and stops the heat from penetrating deeper.

• Protect the area from heat (sun) and dirt.

•Washwound gently with mild soap and water, especially if it has blistered and burst.

Do not:

• Apply butter or grease as this can cause infection.

• Use ice as this can cause further damage to the wound.

• Break blisters as this makes blisters more vulnerable to infection.

Seek emergency medical assistance:

• For children less than two years of age who suffer a burn.

• When a burn wound is larger than three inches in diameter.

In addition, seek medical care immediately if a burn results in increased pain, redness, swelling or fever.

“Burns are progressive, meaning they can worsen over time. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and contact a burn care facility, such as The Grossman Burn Center at St. Luke’sMedicalCenter,” said Dr. Bonillas.

This information is provided by St. Luke’s Medical Center as general information only and is not intended to replace the advice of a physician.