JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO,Texas — According to the American Burn Association Repository’s 2011 report, approximately 450,000 burn injuries require medical treatment each year. The National Fire Prevention Association reports there were 70,800 scalding non-fire burn injuries reported to hospital emergency rooms in 2012, up from 68,700 in 2011.

A scald injury can happen at any age. Hot liquids from bath water, hot coffee and even microwaved soup can cause devastating injuries. Scald burns are the second leading cause of all burn injuries.

The NFPA provides the following safety tips to prevent scalding injuries:

• Teach children that hot things can burn. Install anti-scald devices on tub faucets and shower heads.

• Always supervise a child in or near a bathtub.

• Test the water at the faucet. It should be less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit

• Before placing a child in the bath or getting in the bath yourself, test the water.

• Test the water by moving your hand, wrist and forearm through the water. The water should feel warm – not hot – to the touch.

• Place hot liquids and food in the center of a table or toward the back of a counter.

• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.

• Open microwaved food slowly, away from the face.

• Never hold a child while you are cooking, drinking a hot liquid or carrying hot foods or liquids.

• Never heat a baby bottle in a microwave oven. Heat baby bottles in warm water from the faucet.

• Allow microwaved food to cool before eating.

• Choose prepackaged soups with containers that have a wide base or, to avoid the possibility of a spill, pour the soup into a traditional bowl after heating.

Treatment:

• Treat a burn right away.

• Cool the burn with cool water for 3-5 minutes.

• Cover with a clean, dry cloth.

• Get medical help if needed.

Microwavable soups are a frequent cause of scald burn injuries (especially noodle soups) because they can easily tip over, pouring hot liquid (and noodles) on the person.

For more information about scalding prevention, visit the NFPA website at http://www.nfpa.org/education, the National Scald Prevention Campaign website at http://www/flashsplash.org or contact the fire prevention offices at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 221-2727, at JBSA-Lackland at 671-2921 or at JBSA-Randolph at 652-6915.