Scald injuries are the second most common cause of serious burn injuries in children. Children less than 5 years of age are more likely to get scald injuries. An infant's reflexes do not respond quickly to hot temperature threats. Common threats to children are bath or shower water and sink faucets. Scald burns can range from reddened skin to massive blisters and oozing of fluid. Serious scald burns that cover a large area of the body can threaten a child's life.

First aid for scald burns include:
* Immerse the burned area of an extremity in cool water. Apply cool compresses to burns of the trunk or face. Continue until the child does not seem to be in pain (about 30 minutes).
* Do not apply ice and do not break blisters.
* After soaking, cover with a non-stick bandage. Call your healthcare provider for any burns of the face, head and neck or genitals.
* Call your doctor for any burn injury to a child less than 5 years old.

Scald burns can be prevented. Follow these tips:
* Keep the water temperature set between 120 and 125 degrees F.
* Install a thermoregulator device on sink and tub faucets and showerheads. These devices prevent water from flowing out of the faucet that is hotter than 120 degrees.
* Check bath water with the inside of your wrist or forearm before immersing an infant or child.
* Turn handles of cooking pots and utensils toward the back of the stove.
* Never pour hot liquids when a child is underfoot.
* Check the contents of food or formula that have been warmed in a microwave before feeding the child.
* Keep tablecloth edges out of a child's reach.
* Teach children to turn on cold water faucets first before hot water faucets.
* Never carry hot liquids or foods near your child or while holding the child.
* Never leave containers of hot liquids or foods near the edges of tables or counters.
* Use a cool mist humidifier, not a hot mist one.
* Never leave an infant or young child alone in the bathtub or shower.

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