Darlington Council Urges Parents to Prevent Child Burns at Home

Darlington Borough Council and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust have joined forces to promote burns prevention among families with young children. The campaign, launched for National Burns Awareness Day, includes a video highlighting everyday household hazards that pose a risk to children at home.

Burns and scalds are among the most common injuries affecting young children in domestic settings. Council figures show that rates of unintentional injuries in children and young people in Darlington are above the regional and national average.

Prevention advice for parents and carers

The organisations recommend the following steps to reduce burn and scald risks:

• Keep hot drinks and kettles out of reach of young children at all times, even if they are not in the child's immediate vicinity.
• Use the back rings of the hob wherever possible and turn pan handles towards the back of the cooker so they cannot be easily grabbed.
• Keep children away from cooking areas where possible.
• Store hair straighteners, curling tongs and other hot styling tools out of reach, including while they are cooling down.
• Always check the temperature of bath water before putting a child in. Put cold water in the bath first, then add hot water.
• Keep kettles and their cords away from the edge of worktops.
• Use a fireguard.

Parents and carers are reminded never to assume that something is safe simply because it is out of a child's reach — young children can be surprisingly quick and resourceful.

Cllr Matthew Roche, cabinet member for health and housing, said: "We know that the home is the most common place for childhood accidents and sadly the rates of unintentional injuries in children and young people in Darlington is above the regional and national average. Giving children the best start in life is one of our top priorities and we are delighted to be involved with this fantastic campaign which will help keep local children safe and well."

For more information, visit the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust website.