Learn how to prevent burns and scalds
If you have a child under the age of five, talk to your local Maternal and Child Health Centre or parents’ group about booking the Early Fire Safe Program.
The practical one-hour session covers:
- How to prevent accidents and injuries
- Product safety demonstrations
- Being prepared for fire if one starts at home
Community centres and groups can contact their nearest CFA regional office to find out more about the program. Factsheets can also be downloaded below.
Help us to improve our program
CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) want to better understand the needs of parents and caregivers of young children in accessing and understanding:
- Burns and scalds prevention
- Home fire safety
The focus is on young children – aged 0 to 5 because they are over-represented in fire fatalities and also in burns and scalds. CFA and FRV are hosting some students from the University of Sydney to help us with the research. The research findings will be used to update the Early Fire Safe program.
We are looking for parents and caregivers of children aged 0-5 to complete this short survey to help us to get you the information you need delivered in the way that works best for you.
Safety tips around the home
- Teach children about the dangers of hot surfaces
- Keep pot-handles turned in and kettles out of reach
- Do not leave cords hanging down below bench level
- Water can still burn skin 30 minutes after boiling
- Use non-slip table mats instead of tablecloths (they can be grabbed and pulled)
- Never drink hot drinks with a child on your lap
Bathroom safety tips
- Set your hot water system so the temperature of your bathroom hot water tap is at no more than 50°C
- Never leave children alone in the bathroom
- Keep the bathroom door shut when it’s not being used
- Swirl bath water to mix hot and cold (to avoid hot spots)
- Always use cold water first and last
- Test the bath water with a thermometer first. The ideal temperature for a child’s bath is between 36°C and 38°C
Page last updated: Wednesday, 1 May 2024 3:05:25 PM