Texas children can be burned at home or while in childcare

Burn injuries can be debilitating for anyone, but they can be especially bad for children. If you have a child in your life, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of an in-home accident that could result in a serious burn injury.

Statistics tell us that little boys between the ages of 1 and 2 are the most likely of all children to suffer a burn injury. The number one type of burn injury? Scalding injuries, which typically happen when a toddler reaches up to a stove or counter or pulls on an electrical cord and tips a hot substance (like boiling water, soup, or other hot food) onto themselves.

Parents and caregivers, what can you to do prevent burn injuries?

1. Start teaching your child what areas of the kitchen are off-limits at an early age. Many parents wait too long to teach children these things because their children develop so rapidly. Parents can start at eight months telling children “no” for touching or reaching around the stove and oven, and teach them “hot” and “ouch”. However, curious children will not likely be deterred from exploring, so when cooking or heating water children must be watched constantly or a barrier put up to prevent them from getting to the kitchen.
2. Keep matches and lighters out of reach – even young children can start a fire with a small spark if they play with matches out of curiosity.
3. Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees to prevent hot water scalding injuries if the child turns on the hot water tap.
4. Keep hot irons, hot curling irons / hot rollers, and other household devices that get hot away from children. These devices should be unplugged when not in use and put out of the child’s reach to cool.
5. Supervise children. This seems obvious, but many accidents happen to children when nobody is actively keeping an eye on them (especially when parents or caregivers are distracted “just for a second”.) By always knowing where your children are and what they are doing, you can prevent a serious burn injury or other accident from occurring.

You have legal rights if your child is burned in an accident that should have been prevented

Knowing that a variety of different burn injuries can happen to children is the first step in preventing them. However, sometimes children will get burned – and in some cases very badly. If your child was burned because of a caregiver’s negligence – you have legal rights.

Please contact us today to discuss your burn injury case and how we can help you. Our compassionate, determined attorneys will work hard to make sure that your child’s medical and future needs are taken care of.

Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C

1001 Texas Avenue, Suite 1020

Houston, TX 77002

Phone: 713.224.7800

Fax: 713.224.7801