Injury prevention is crucial for prolonged health and wellness. Burn injuries are common at home, particularly when preparing meals. While you should visit your local emergency room to receive immediate treatment for bad burns, you should also know how these injuries happen and what to do about them. This guide discusses some important basics to ensure you're fully prepared. 

Which Burn Injuries Are Most Common at Home?

1. Scalds

Coming into contact with extremely hot water can cause scalds. Children are most vulnerable to scalding when using sinks around the home, as they may inadvertently turn on the hot water without the cold. Along with supervising kids when using sinks, make sure your hot water heater is set to 120 degrees to avoid major burns. In general, you should visit the emergency room for burn treatment if the area affected is larger than three inches. Burns impacting the hands and face also require immediate care to prevent worsening effects. 

2. Hot Food

Food must be allowed to cool before handling it, or you could experience a significant burn injury. Always use oven mitts when handling hot pans and dishes, and make sure your family is aware of the temperature of dishes when serving meals. If a burn occurs, run cold water over the injury and wait about 20 minutes before cleaning the area with soap and water. The burn should then be covered with a clean, sterile cloth to prevent contaminants from impacting it. 

3. Oil Splashes

In addition to the burns caused by hot foods, oil can also cause painful injuries when it comes in contact with your skin. These injuries are common when preparing fried food, especially in a hot frying pan where oil will be sizzling. Oil burns can be treated by other types of burns and require emergency treatment, especially when the injury is large or affects sensitive body parts. You should also keep children away from hot stoves when preparing food.

In Campbellsville, KY, Taylor Regional Hospital is always available to provide urgent treatment for you and your loved ones. Their emergency room is available 24/7 to help you deal with major injuries and ailments. You'll also be impressed by the kindness and consideration of the staff, who make sure every patient leaves with comprehensive after-care instructions to ensure optimum healing.  You can also visit the website to learn more about their emergency services.