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Serious burns remain one of the leading causes of injury in kids. And the cold winter months,
when deep-fried turkey and steaming hot chocolate are popular, fuel an up-tick in the number of burn injuries caused by cooking.
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University of Florida surgeons say children often receive a higher proportion of kitchen burns, because they're less aware of the dangers posed by stovetops, ovens and microwaves. One of the most common injuries seen by burn experts happens when a parent goes to remove a baked item from the oven and a nearby toddler puts his or her hands on the inside of the hot door. Scalding can also occur when toddlers grab the stovetop. Although kitchen gatherings are common while the Thanksgiving meal is prepared, trauma experts say children should stay clear of the kitchen.
Dr. Elizabeth Beierle / UF pediatric surgeon
"It just takes one accident to ruin the holiday. So everyone's getting ready to have a big wonderful Thanksgiving feast and the three-year-old sustains a burn injury and they're on their way to the emergency room. So I think the contrast to that is the kids should be playing somewhere else with someone supervising them while the person who's in charge of cooking is in the kitchen doing the cooking."
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Emergency personnel also see many injuries caused by fryers and grease fires. Older kids preparing French fries and other oil-cooked treats can be caught off-guard if a grease fire erupts, attempting to quickly move the burning pan to the sink. But this only fans the flames, and can spill hot grease on the victim. A lid to smother any fire should be kept nearby during frying. UF experts also say children should be well-supervised around the microwave and shouldn't handle hot beverages.
Dr. Elizabeth Beierle / UF pediatric surgeon
"Things like cocoa, hot soup, coffee, tea-- they tend to reach for those items because they see their parents consuming those items and then the cup spills on them and they sustain a burn injury."
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At the University of Florida Health Science Center, I'm Mike Garrison.
