Safety Tips from St. John Ambulance on How to Avoid Burns
September 28, 2009 (Toronto, ON) – Anyone who has ever suffered from even a mild burn can tell you it’s a particularly unpleasant experience. This Fire Safety week St. John Ambulance wants you to take some simple steps to avoid getting burned. Remember there are four types of burns to be aware of: thermal (heat) burns, chemical burns, electrical burns and radiation burns.
How to Prevent Thermal (Heat) Burns:
- Set your water tank thermostat no higher than 54˚C (130˚F)
- Prepare your bath with cold water, then add hot water to reach the desired temperature
- Keep hot liquids out of reach of children
- Teach your children the dangers of heat from stoves, ovens, fireplaces, candles, etc…
- Supervise the use of stoves, fires and smoking materials – keep matches, lighters and all smoking materials out reach for children
- Ensure anyone near a heat source is not wearing highly flammable or loose clothing
How to Prevent Chemical Burns:
- Wear eye protection when working with chemicals
- Store chemicals in a locked cupboard to keep children safe
- Store chemicals in a lower cupboard to prevent spillage when taking the container off the shelf
How to Prevent Electrical Burns:
- Keep children from chewing on electrical cords
- Secure electrical cords of items like irons or kettles to prevent the object from being pulled down
- Always check that electricity is turned off before you disassemble/repair electrical equipment or tools
How to Prevent Radiation Burns
- Protect all family members from sunburn with protective clothing and sunscreen
- Wear sunglasses
- Beware of certain medication that may make your skin more sensitive to the sun – consult your pharmacist to learn more
For 125 years, St. John Ambulance has been training over 140,000 Ontarians annually in first aid and other health care related courses and remains dedicated to saving lives at work, home and play. With over 4,000 volunteers contributing over half a million hours of community service a year, St. John Ambulance is an integral part of the community offering such unique and innovative programs as; medical first response, disaster response, car seat clinics, health and safety related youth programs and therapy dog services. As a charitable, non-denominational, humanitarian organization, proceeds from St. John Ambulance’s first aid training and first aid product sales directly support these vital community services programs. For more information on St. John Ambulance training courses and volunteer opportunities or to contact your local branch, visit
www.sja.ca