The majority of scald burns to young children, between six months and two years, occur from hot food and liquids in the kitchen. It is imperative for people around young children to keep them out of all areas of food preparation, and to take the proper precautions in those areas to limit the risk of scald, such as turning in pot handles, keeping children away from the stove, and placing hot foods and liquids out of reach of children.
Roughly 25 percent of scald injuries result from tap water that is too hot for safe use. Hot water injuries occur in the bathroom and the kitchen. Tap water burns are associated with more death than other hot liquid burns. They tend to be more severe and cover a larger portion of the body. To lower the risk of receiving a scald burn from hot tap water, set water temperatures in the home no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
