Age: 12 to 14 months
Risk: Burns
Burns from hot liquids and vapor are a leading cause of injury in this age group. Hot tap water from a sink or bathtub tends to cause more severe scalds than do spilled hot liquids. A baby, whose thinner skin burns at a lower temperature and more deeply than an adult's, can suffer third-degree burns in a few seconds when the water temperature is above 140° Fahrenheit.
Car-related injuries (caused by driveway back-overs, falling out of a car, or setting a car in motion) increase markedly with a baby's ability to walk. And falling into a pool or hot tub continues to be a risk as toddlers become able to gain access to these facilities.
How to prevent burns:
• Set the thermostat on your home's hot-water heater to 120°F to prevent scalding.
• Keep children out of the kitchen or secured in a high chair while you're cooking. Turn handles of pots and pans away from the edge of the stove.
• Don't hold your baby while drinking or carrying hot liquids. Do not place hot liquids near the edge of a table, and avoid using tablecloths.
• Install smoke detectors in your home.
• Have working fire extinguishers in your home.
• If you smoke, do not smoke in bed, and properly dispose of butts and ashes.
• Keep electrical appliances and cords out of your child's reach.
• Erect barriers around space heaters, woodstoves, fireplaces, or kerosene heaters.
• Check your heating system at least once a year to prevent malfunctioning, carbon monoxide poisoning, and fires.
• Keep young infants out of direct sunlight. Use shading, sunscreen, and hats when outdoors.
