Keep Your Family Safe from Burn Injuries Safe this Summer

By S. Randall Hood | August 30, 2016

Keep Your Family Safe from Burn Injuries Safe this SummerThe best way to prevent burns is a little common sense. Our guide to preparing for your summer can help keep you and your family safe during summer fun; a trip to the hospital can ruin everyone’s day, and burns can cause serious health problems. The biggest burn risks to you and your family face this summer include:

  • The sun. Applying sunscreen frequently can prevent painful burns. Remember that sunburn is possible on a cloudy day, and even with frequent applications, sunburn can happen if you stay out too long, or don’t use a strong enough SPF. When skin is blistered or a sunburn victim doesn’t feel right, seek professional medical attention. Serious burns can become infected and require hospitalization.
  • The grill. Lighting the grill can be a challenge; gas can build up while you’re struggling to light a match, and the resulting blaze can sear eyebrows and skin. Once the grill is safely lit, grease fires can flare out of control; throwing water on a grease fire is dangerous, and can cause serious burns to anyone in the immediate area. Even without flare-ups, the grill is a hot surface that poses a risk to toddlers and young children. If you are using a charcoal grill, go easy on the lighter fluid, and don’t poke the coals; they can send up sparks.
  • Hot surfaces. In the heat of the summer sun, glass, metal, vinyl and even asphalt can absorb dangerous amounts of heat. Everything from the metal of your seatbelt buckle to the heat of the driveway can cause painful and serious burns that require medical attention. You can also get serious burns on your feet from walking barefoot on sand, sop make sure you wear your shoes on the beaches this summer – at least until you make it to a cooler part of the shoreline.
  • The fire pit. After surviving the heat of the day, a cool summer night isn’t complete without a fire for toasting marshmallows and telling stories. Lighting a fire comes with the same hazards as lighting the grill, except there is a higher chance that an accelerant will be involved. In addition, the fire pit is just as dangerous to young children as any other hot surface. That burning wood has to be replenished; adding fuel to the fire can sear your arm as easily as it singes your fingertips.
  • Letting the kids run around the yard with sparklers seems harmless enough, but the hand-held fireworks burn at around 1800°F. This one, at least, is easy to avoid; leave the fireworks to the professionals. Fireflies are much safer.

Fear of burns is a terrible reason to stay inside and microwave your food all summer. A little precaution is all that is called for to keep you and yours safe in the sun. Unfortunately, accidents happen despite the best intentions. If you or a loved one was injured in an accident, the experienced South Carolina burn injury attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips LLC can evaluate your case and help get you the compensation you deserve. Call 803-327-7800 or contact us today for a free consultation.

 

 

Posted in Burn Injury