“Home should be an anchor, a port in the storm, a refuge, a happy place in which to dwell, a place where we are loved and where we can love” (Author unknown). Feeling safe and secure in your own home is essential. Just hearing the word “home” makes you feel warm and safe, and makes you want to protect that space and the feeling it gives. Unfortunately, burn injuries can happen anywhere, even in familiar surroundings. This article explores essential tips to prevent burns and create a safer environment for you and your loved ones.
Did you know that nearly 400,000 Americans receive medical treatment for burns each year according to the American Burn Association? Thankfully, due to increased public awareness and education efforts, burn fatalities and injuries have decreased over time. The reason behind this decrease is education and public awareness of prevention.
Common Types of Home Burns and How to Prevent Them:
Scald Burns
Scald burns are the most frequent type of burn injury at home, affecting people of all ages. However, young children and the elderly are particularly susceptible. Here are some tips to help prevent a scald burn:
- Adjust Water Heater Temperature: Set your water heater to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit or just below the medium setting.
- Establish Safe Zones: Designate a “No Kid Zone” around the oven and kitchen counters where hot items are present.
- Keep Hot Items Out of Reach: Avoid placing anything hot on a table within reach of young children.
- Use the Back Burners: When cooking, use the back burners and turn pot and pan handles away from the stove’s edge. Always use oven mitts when handling hot pots, pans, and dishes.
- Test Bathwater Temperature: Always run bathwater for children and test the temperature before they get in. Never leave a child unattended in the bathtub.
Cooking Burns
When you think about cooking burns and safety, let’s not forget to include the cooking that is done on the gas or charcoal grill, or over an open fire pit in the back yard. Not only are there hot services, pots/pans, and utensils to worry about, but the National Fire Protection Agency found that cooking fires are the cause of 44% of all home fires. Check out these tips to help prevent cooking burns/fires:
When you think about cooking burns and safety, let’s not forget to include the cooking that is done on the gas or charcoal grill, or over an open fire pit in the back yard. Not only are there hot services, pots/pans, and utensils to worry about, but the National Fire Protection Agency found that cooking fires are the cause of 44% of all home fires. Check out these tips to help prevent cooking burns/fires:
- Wear Appropriate Clothing: Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking to avoid catching fire.
- Maintain a Clean Kitchen: Regularly clean the stovetop, oven, and exhaust fan to prevent grease buildup.
- Prevent Grease Splatter: Use a lid or splashguard when frying to prevent grease splatter.
- Keep Safety Tools Nearby: Always have a pan lid and oven mitts within reach while cooking.
- Gas Grill Safety: Regularly inspect gas grills for leaks and ensure connections and hoses are secure.
- Proper Grill Ignition: Always open the lid before starting a gas grill to prevent gas accumulation.
- Avoid Dangerous Accelerants: Never use gasoline as a starter fluid for charcoal grills.
- Fight Cooking Fires Safely: Never use water to extinguish a cooking fire. It can cause oil to splatter and spread the fire.
Other Burns
Burns can occur in unexpected ways around your home, not just in the kitchen. Here are additional tips to prevent burns around your home:
- Monitor Heat Sources: Never leave a lit space heater or fireplace unattended.
- Store Gasoline Safely: Only use gasoline outdoors and store it in a cool, well-ventilated area.
- Refuel Safely: Only refuel gas-powered equipment like lawn mowers when the engine is cool.
- Avoid Smoking in Bed: Smoking in bed is a leading cause of accidental fires.
- Check Vaping Devices: Stop using vaping devices if the battery is damaged.
- Handle Fireworks Carefully: Fireworks should only be handled with adult supervision and according to local regulations.
- Prevent Frostbite: Remember that frostbite is a type of burn; dress warmly in freezing weather.
Home Fire Prevention
Do you know how long it takes for a fire to get started in your home? You may have as little as 2 minutes to get out and to safety. Wherever you have the ingredients to create a chemical reaction, known as the fire triangle, there is a chance something or someone could be injured or burned.
Los American Red Cross recommends having an escape route planned, one that is practiced on a regular basis. This could mean the difference between life and death. Other recommendations include having a fire detector on every level of your house and checking the batteries at least once a month. Lastly, if there is a fire, get out, stay out, and call for help.
Fireplace Safety Tips
Fireplaces can add warmth and ambiance to your home, but they also require caution. Nothing sounds cozier than sitting by a fire on a cold winter night, soaking up the glow and relishing the crackle only a wood fire can make. Playing with fire, even if it seems to be in a controlled environment can be dangerous, so here are a few tips to help keep everyone safe:
- Use Dry, Seasoned Wood: Avoid using wet or green wood, which burns less efficiently and produces more smoke.
- Open the Damper: Ensure the damper or flue is open before starting a fire and keep it open until the embers are completely extinguished.
- Clean Out Ashes Regularly: Maintain a maximum ash level of 1 inch at the base of the fireplace to ensure proper air circulation.
- Have Your Chimney Inspected Annually: A professional chimney sweep can identify and address potential hazards.
- Minimize Burns from Fireplace Glass: Install safety screens to prevent accidental contact with hot fireplace glass, especially if you have young children.
- Never Leave a Fire Unattended: Extinguish any flames before leaving the room or going to bed. If you must while the fireplace is still hot, take young children with you.
- Clear the Area Around the Fireplace: Keep flammable furniture, drapes, and other materials at least three feet away from the fireplace.
- Keep Fireplace Tools Out of Reach: Store fireplace tools and matches away from curious children.
- Have a Fire Extinguisher on Hand: Keep a properly charged fire extinguisher near your fireplace in case of emergencies.
- Teach Children About Fire Safety: Educate children about the dangers of fire and the importance of staying away from fireplaces.
IN MY EXPERIENCE AS A NURSE
As previously mentioned, home is our little safe haven, a place where we let our guard down and feel completely comfortable. Therefore, we may let safety slide a little or become slack in our awareness because this is where we spend a lot of our time, and we feel like no harm can reach us in our safe place. Please do not fall into this lull…
Scenario 1: Candlelight Celebration
It’s a special occasion: Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or a loved one’s birthday, and you have a special meal planned. The cooking is done, the table is set, and as the finishing touch you go to light the candles. Giving it no thought, you light one, then reach across the table to light the other and poof… you see from the corner of your eye that your hair has caught fire. The combination of the highly flammable hairspray and the flame from the candle you brushed across without realizing has caused major burns to your face and neck. A trip to the emergency room results, and your celebration plans are ruined. Situational awareness could have prevented this burn injury altogether.
Scenario 2: Backyard Relaxation Gone Wrong
It’s a beautiful evening outside so you decide to have a fire in your backyard after supper, maybe knocking back a beer or two to unwind from the workweek while roasting some marshmallows with your wife and kids. Now I know I don’t have you tell you that alcohol and fire don’t mix, so after having a few you decide to light a cigar, thinking it’s a good idea to just lean into the perfect lighter that’s right in front of you in the form of the open fire in your fire pit. Not thinking at all about the long, full beard you’ve been growing for months or how when it catches fire it will cause major burns on your face, neck, and torso. Again, there is a trip to the emergency room and your perfect family evening is cut short.
In Conclusion
There are many more scenarios we could go through, either accidental or deliberate, but I just ask that you please take a few extra minutes to exercise caution when you are dealing with an open flame, no matter how big or small! By following these essential tips and remaining aware of potential hazards, you can significantly reduce the risk of burn injuries in your home. Remember, even seemingly simple situations can lead to burns. Take a few extra minutes to exercise caution around open flames and other heat sources, no matter how big or small. This will help create a safer environment for you and your loved ones.
Recursos adicionales
Academia Estadounidense de Pediatría
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health
Temple Health
University of South Carolina
El contenido de este blog tiene carácter informativo, pero no debe considerarse como consejo médico. Este contenido no sustituye la atención ni la supervisión de un profesional médico calificado.
About the Author
Sharon Wix was born on the East Coast but now spends her winters in Arizona and summers in Idaho. She is a practicing Nurse, Freelance Writer, and proud member of Zion HealthShare. She has 17 years of nursing experience combining bedside nursing, correctional nursing, and for the last 10 years, a traveling surgical nurse in the operating room. Some of her passions are writing and patient education so combining the two seemed like the best of both worlds.
Vigente desde: January 11, 2026