Burns and Scalds can happen so quickly and easily, not just in the kitchen, but any room in the house. With hot drinks, taps in bathrooms, radiators and fires the home environment can be a dangerous place.

Below are some tips to minimise the risk, as prevention is better than the cure

• keep young children out the kitchen unless they are being supervised. A good idea is to put a stairgate across the entrance so that you control the environment.
• Don't let your toddler play on the floor in the kitchen as you may trip over them or their toys
• never drink hot drinks when holding your baby or young child, or leave a cup unattended and in their reach - be warned they reach better than you think
• don't leave flexes for kettles, toaster or irons near the edge of work surfaces, move them right out of reach
• ensure saucepan handles are turned towards the rear of the cooker and try to use the back burners whenever possible
• fit fireguards around heaters, fire and hot radiators. You can get covers for radiators that are bright and colourful for their bedrooms.
• keep your children away from over, washing machines and tumble dryers, it can be surprising how hot an washing machine can get.
• run cold water into the bath first, and then add the hot. Always test the water with your elbow, as hands are often insensitive to heat

We are not experts in first aid, this is just a guide from us to assist you, if you want to learn more about First Aid for Children you should contact your local health service and find out what courses are available in your area.

Please email us at: contributions@forparentsbyparents.co.uk