Posted by Pardridge Insurance Agency, Inc. on December 23, 2015

From cleaning to cooking, homes run on hot water. However, hot water can burn the youngest members of your household. Pardridge Insurance would like you to take the precautions to prevent such a disaster!

“Just because the water is not hot to your skin, doesn’t mean it won’t hurt a child’s skin,” said David Miller, assistant vice president of Special Investigations at Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. “A child may not know to pull back before it’s too late.”

Today, over 300 children will receive emergency room treatment for a burn-related injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can prevent a scald at home with these tips from Grinnell Mutual.

1. Set your water heater to 120° Fahrenheit.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges homeowners to set their water heaters at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Set the temperature above 120 degrees and you run the risk of scalds to skin,” said Miller.

A small change in temperature can have dramatic results. Water heated to 140 degrees can give someone a third-degree burn in just six seconds, where water at 120 degrees would take five minutes to have the same effect.

2. Test your child’s bathwater first.

Roll up your sleeve and dip your arm into the water up to the elbow. The water should feel warm, but not hot, as you move your arm in the water.

3. Stand by your pan.

“Children in the kitchen can be a distraction,” said Miller.

Never leave food unattended on the stove. While cooking, it may help to have a three-foot kid-free zone around the stove so children are less likely to be scalded hot liquids.

Standing by your pan may also prevent a cooking fire. Read more about how you can prevent fires in the kitchen.

4. Turn in your pot handles on the stove.

When you have the pot and pan handles turned to the inside of the stove, it makes it harder for children to reach them and tip boiling water or other hot liquids on themselves.