February 04, 2019 - New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Calls Attention to Burn and Scald Injury Prevention during National Burn Awareness Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, February 04, 2019

TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety and fire departments statewide are raising awareness of the dangers of serious burn and scald injuries, especially to young children, during National Burn Awareness week, which runs February 3-9.  Most fire-related injuries are burns. In fact, approximately every 60 seconds someone in the U.S. sustains a burn injury serious enough to require treatment. 

“Everyone, but especially young children and older adults, is vulnerable to possible burn injury,” said State Fire Marshal Richard Mikutsky, Director of the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety. “For example, the steam produced from a food container inside a microwave oven can quickly reach a temperature of 200 degrees, which can easily cause burn injuries.” 

Fire Marshal Mikutsky adds that households should maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of the home; close interior entry doors before sleeping; and have a family home escape plan that is practiced often. 

Additional cautions for preventing scald and burn injury include:

• Teach children that hot things can burn. Install anti-scald devices on tub faucets and shower heads.
• Always supervise a child in or near a bathtub.
• Test the water at the faucet. It should be less than 100° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius).
• Before placing a child in the bath or getting in the bath yourself, test the water.
• Test the water by moving your hand, wrist and forearm through the water.
• The water should feel warm, not hot, to the touch.
• Place hot liquids and food in the center of a table or toward the back of a counter.
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Open microwaved food slowly, away from the face.
• Never hold a child while you are cooking, drinking a hot liquid, or carrying hot foods or liquids.
• Never heat a baby bottle in a microwave oven. Heat baby bottles in warm water from the faucet.
• Allow microwaved food to cool before eating.

The Division of Fire Safety serves as the central fire service agency in the State. The Division is responsible for the development and enforcement of the State Uniform Fire Code, as well as for implementing community risk reduction and firefighter training programs. 

The DCA was established in 1967 to improve state services to local government; address the issues at the time of urban decline and suburban development; and secure federal funds to fight poverty. Today, the Department offers a wide range of programs and services, including affordable housing production, fire safety and building safety, community planning and development, local government management and finance, and disaster recovery.

For more information about DCA, visit https://nj.gov/dca/ or follow the Department on social media: