Each February, the Burn Awareness Coalition sponsors National Burn Injury Awareness Month. Burn injury awareness should be practiced every day, however. Did you know:

• More than two million people suffer from serious burn injuries each year in the United States.
• Nationally, over 8,000 people die each year from burn-related injuries.
• Burns are the second leading cause of death to children under the age of four years
• 80 percent of all burns to children under eight years are caused by scalding.
• Just one second of exposure to a hot liquid can cause a life threatening injury to a child.

Washington has experienced a decline in fire death rates when compared to national averages. Let's continue the downward trend through fire prevention education, fire code enforcement, smoke detectors, and home sprinkler systems. Visit the Northwest Burn Foundation web site at: www.nwburn.org.

Burn Injury Prevention

• When carrying or holding children, keep hot beverages away from the child.
• When cooking, use the back burners and always turn the pot handles inward.
• Food comes out of the microwave oven much hotter than expected. Take extra precautions around children.
• Never microwave a child's bottle or allow young children to remove items from the microwave.
• Check the temperature of bath water before placing your child in the tub. The recommended temperature is 100 degrees.
• Never leave young children unattended in the bathtub or in the kitchen while cooking.
• Check the temperature on your hot water heater, the recommended setting is 102 degrees.
• Keep appliances toward the back of the counter top. Cords should be wound-up and out-of-reach.

Call 9-1-1 For Help

• Stay calm!
• Answer all questions asked by the dispatcher as thoroughly as possible.
• Follow all instructions given to you by the dispatcher.
• Do not hang-up the phone until told to do so by the dispatcher.
• Keep your address and phone number posted on or near your telephone. This is especially important when you have out-of-town guests or a babysitter.