Barbecue
Safety
Watch Children Around Open Barbecues
It's barbecue season again, and parents need to keep an eye out
for their toddlers and young children to prevent burns. "From
grills to barbecue pits, parents need to make sure their children
avoid any area near an open flame," said Kim Davies, trauma
manager at Children's Medical Center of Dallas. "This is
especially important as you begin heating up a grill - it's not
hot enough for food, but it's hot enough to burn."
Grills are unstable and curious eyes might want a peek at what's
cooking. Keep an eye out for kids trying to pull themselves up for
a better view - the whole grill can topple on them and cause
severe burn injuries.
Davies also recommends cleaning grills of grease buildup before
using barbecues or grills. "Use lighting fluid sparingly and
demonstrate responsible behavior around fires. Demonstrating how
quickly and how high a flame can get may entice a child to try the
feat on their own," she said. "When you're done, make
sure the coals are completely out and not smoldering. Put all
lighter fluid, matches and coals away from curious hands and make
sure they're kept out of reach when not in use.
Treating Burns
Treating burns should be left to experts, but there are some
things you can do to help alleviate your child's pain. Dr. Robert
Wiebe, director of the emergency center at Children's Medical
Center of Dallas, recommends that parents first remove clothing or
other covering. "Hot food and liquids on clothing are more
common and can continue to burn tissues they cover," he said.
If the burn is small, Wiebe recommends pouring cool water on the
burn for about five minutes. "Cool water should only be used
on small burns, and must be used immediately to reduce the depth
of the burn," he said. "Ice, butter or ointments should
never be used." Wiebe then recommends covering the burn with
a dressing that is soft, clean and dry. "Be sure the covering
isn't tight - swelling occurs around more serious burns."
Finally, seek medical attention immediately. The larger the burn,
the more urgent the need. "For less serious burns, contact
you family pediatrician," Wiebe said. "The more serious
burns require emergency attention."
Clean Up After The Barbecue: Dangers To Kids Abound
After a successful barbecue when the guest have gone it's tempting
to wait until later to clean up the yard, but medical personnel at
Children's Medical Center of Dallas warn against it.
"Depending on the kind of gathering you have, some dangers
may linger after the guests leave," said Kim Davies, trauma
manager at Children's.
"Kids are curious and will taste anything that looks
interesting," she said. Davies advised parents to pick up any
discarded food, bottles and cans. "Children could drink from
bottles that are half-full, which could be dangerous if the bottle
contains alcohol," she sail. "Food that's left-over from
the night before could cause food poisoning."
Davies also warns against leaving lighters, lighter fluid, matches
and coals within reach of children. "As soon as you're done
with these items, securely confine them to areas that can't be
accessed by kids. Fires and burns result when they try to emulate
their parents and light a barbecue." |
