Study: most adults not practicing fire safety at home

Despite the majority of Americans agreeing that there are actions one can do to prevent the risk of burns at home, approximately 44 percent say they don't employ such measures because they don't believe burns are a serious danger, according to a new study.


The research was conducted by the national nonprofit Home Safety Council and H2otStop in an effort to educate people about how to avoid scald burn injuries at home.


According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 112,000 people enter hospital emergency rooms each year with hot water scald burns.

Others have burned themselves with hot foods and beverages heated on the stove or microwave.


"Scald burn injuries can happen in the blink of an eye and clearly, the public is unaware of this danger," Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council, said.


Some ways to prevent possible burns would be for senior citizens to set their water heater at 120 degrees F and to always wear long oven mitts to protect their skin, according to the council.


If one is burned, it is suggested they run cold water over the injury right away.


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