At Sunnybrook’s Ross Tilley Burn Centre, we care for the majority of burn injury patients in Ontario, including those who have received burns in their houses, apartments and temporary shelters.

This week, February 2 – 8, is Burn Awareness Week. It’s a good time to remember simple steps that can keep you and your family safe. From the kitchen to the bathroom, here are my tips:

Commit to kitchen safety

When preparing meals at home, never leave cooking food unattended. Use timers, keep handles turned inward, avoid loose clothing, keep a fire extinguisher nearby and always stay close when cooking.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Fires spread incredibly quickly, as this video shows. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly, and replace the batteries when necessary. Don’t forget that detectors have an expiry date listed on the back – they need to be replaced every ten years.

Remember candles and heating devices

Extinguish candles before sleeping, and check heating devices like space heaters for safety (as well as keeping them at least three feet away from fabrics). Also be sure to avoid heating pads without an auto shut-off feature, and keep all cords in good condition.

Don’t use dangerous equipment, like blowtorches, inside

If cold weather has caused frozen pipes, furnace breakdowns or other issues, call in the experts. Never take a blowtorch to a frozen pipe, or run a generator inside.

Don’t forget the bathroom…

Be sure to set water heater below 120°F, check bathwater with a thermometer and supervise children in the bathtub.

About the Ross Tilley Burn Centre

Sunnybrook’s Ross Tilley Burn Centre is the first Canadian burn program verified by the American Burn Association. This designation was awarded as the Centre has the resources necessary to provide optimal care to burn patients from the time of injury through rehabilitation.

The post I’m a burn surgeon. Here are my tips for staying safe at home appeared first on Your Health Matters.