Here are the interviews E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc.’s president and founder Michael McLeieer did promoting National Burn Awareness Week 2022.
WXMI Fox 17 – 8:40 a.m. – 02/07/2022
WKZO AM 590 & FM 106.9 radio – 9:10 a.m. – 02/07/2022
Burning Issues in the Kitchen…Watch What You Heat
The smell of a cake baking in the oven or a tasty soup simmering on the stovetop is difficult for both children and adults to resist. However, cooking remains the number one cause of home fires in Michigan and across the United States.
That’s why National Burn Awareness Week, observed the first full week in February, is a window of opportunity for organizations to mobilize burn, fire and life safety educators and unite in sharing a common burn awareness and prevention message in the community Where You Live.
“47% of all home fires are caused by cooking. Adults over 65 are at a much higher risk of injury or death from a kitchen fire due to physical, visual, hearing or mental impairments that may slow the quick action necessary in a fire emergency,” according to Firefighter Michael McLeieer, president and founder of the non-profit fire safety charity E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc.
“Thinner skin of older adults burns faster and deeper,” according to McLeieer.
Here are some tips to stay safe and prepared!
Plan A: Primary Prevention
- The best time to cook is when you are wide awake and not drowsy from medications or alcohol.
- Always wipe clean the stove, oven, and exhaust fan to prevent grease buildup.
- Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking.
- Keep a pan lid and dry potholders or oven mitts near you EVERY time you cook.
- Turn pot or pan handles toward the back of the stove.
- When heating food in the microwave, use microwave-safe cookware that allows steam to escape.
- Allow food to rest before removing from the microwave.
- When frying, use a pan lid or splash guard to prevent grease splatter.
- Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave, turn off the stove.
- If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or broiling food, check it regularly. Remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you to check on your cooking.
- After cooking, check the kitchen to make sure all burners and other appliances are turned off.
- Never use the oven for storage.
Plan B: Secondary Prevention
If your food does catch on fire…
- Cover the pan with its lid. A cookie sheet works too. Leave covered until the pan is cool. NEVER move the pot or carry it outside – the pot is too hot to handle and the contents may splash, causing a severe burn.
- Turn the heat off. With the lid on and the heat off, the fire should quickly put itself out. NEVER use water to put out a kitchen fire. Water will cause the oil to splatter and spread the fire, or scald you as it vaporizes.
- If the fire is inside the oven or microwave, keep the door shut and turn it off. Keep closed until the oven is cool.
- If the fire gets out of control- get out, stay out and call 9-1-1. Don’t return inside for any reason.
National Burn Awareness Week is the perfect time to share this information, develop a fire escape plan, check your smoke alarms, and make your kitchen and entire home safe for those you care for where you live! According to McLeieer, “preventing a burn injury is always better than the pain and trauma of medical treatment afterward. For more information visit ameriburn.org/prevention/burn-awareness-week.
The smell of a cake baking in the oven or a tasty soup simmering on the stovetop is difficult for both children and adults to resist. However, each year over 486,000 individuals in the U.S. and Canada are seen in emergency departments, minor emergency clinics or physician’s offices for the treatment of a burn injury due to cooking, hot liquids, grease, food, tap water and steam.
Most scald burns occur in the home and are typically related to everyday activities such as cooking, eating and bathing. They often occur to young children because of a lack of adult supervision and a failure to follow safe practices.
That’s why National Burn Awareness Week, observed the first full week in February, is designed to teach kids how to be responsible for their personal safety and to increase family awareness of potentially harmful situations in homes throughout the community where you live.
“Children under the age of five are 2.4 times as likely as the general population to suffer burn injuries that require emergency medical treatment.” according to Firefighter Michael McLeieer of the non-profit fire safety charity E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. “Young children cannot understand the potential dangers of things that can burn them. Today, 96.8% of those who suffer burn injuries will survive. Unfortunately, many of those survivors will sustain serious scarring, life-long physical disabilities, and adjustment difficulties,” said McLeieer.
Facts about burn related injuries:
- The primary causes of burn injuries include fire-flame, scalds, electrical and chemicals.
- Hot water scalds are the leading cause of burns to young children.
- Men are more likely to be burned than women (68% males and 32% females were seen at a burn unit).
- Most of the injuries occur in the home (73%) followed by work (8%).
- Tragically, children, the elderly, and the disabled are especially vulnerable to burn injuries, and almost one-third of all burn injuries occur in children under the age of 15.
- Young adults ages 20-29 have a probability of a burn injury that is roughly 1.5 times the risk of the general population.
Prevent burns and scalds in the kitchen:
- Place objects so that they cannot be pulled down or knocked over.
- Turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge.
- Use dry oven mitts or potholders. Hot cookware can heat moisture in a potholder or hot pad, resulting in a scald burn.
- Remove food that has been cooked in the microwave carefully. Open containers slowly and away from the face.
- Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
- Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove.
- Never hold a child while you are cooking, drinking a hot liquid, or carrying hot foods or liquids.
General first aid for burns and scalds:
- Treat a burn right away by putting it under cool, running water. Cool the burn for fifteen to twenty minutes.
- Cover a burn with a clean, dry cloth. Do not apply creams, ointments, sprays or other home remedies.
- Remove all clothing, diapers, jewelry and metal from the burned area. These can hide underlying burns and retain heat, which can increase skin damage.
- Seek immediate emergency medical care for more serious burns to prevent infection, other complications and death.
National Burn Awareness Week is the perfect time to share this information, develop a fire escape plan, check your smoke alarms, and make your kitchen and entire home safe for those you care for Where You Live!
* Information provided by the American Burn Association, United States Fire Administration and National Fire Protection Association.
National Burn Awareness Week is February 5 – 11, 2017. Please listen to some important burn prevention tips shared on WKZO AM 590 radio Monday morning February 6th at 9:10 a.m. by our founder Firefighter Michael McLeieer.