Council Launches Scald Prevention Campaign
June 26, 2018
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is highlighting the dangers of hot drinks to babies and young children with a new campaign aimed at local food establishments.
The Council’s Home Safety Team has provided specially designed posters and information cards to local cafes for them to display. It wants to reach parents with the message that hot drinks can scald even after 15 minutes of being made.
The campaign will raise awareness of the dangers of hot drinks and provide helpful tips to prevent a scald happening. The Council hopes that coffee shops will not only display the posters and information cards, but that staff will encourage parents to follow the guidance provided while out for coffee with young children.
The Mayor, Councillor Uel Mackin, said: “Accidents can happen so quickly and through this campaign we want parents to realise the risks associated with handling hot drinks around babies and young children. A child’s skin is 15 times thinner than an adult’s meaning it will scald much easier.
“There are simple actions parents can take to help prevent the risk of scalding: never handle your baby while drinking a hot drink, use non slip table mats instead of a tablecloth; and ensure hot drinks are kept well out of reach so do not place them on the edge of worktops or tables. This also applies to hot soups and stews.
“We are urging parents to be extra vigilant when bringing their children to cafes and coffee shops. Meeting for coffee is a great way to get out and socialise with friends but coffee shops are busy places. Parents should apply the same care to preventing scalds in coffee shops as they do at home.”
The most common cause of scalds to young children is from hot drinks. Scalding can happen easily but could cause serious problems for a long time, sometimes involving repeated skin grafts and may even result in disfiguring scars.
Robin Mercer from Hillmount Garden Centre added: “As a family run business and having grandchildren myself I feel it is really important to highlight children’s safety around hot liquids when visiting our coffee shops. I know the staff will feel more confident approaching this subject with parents/carers due to the posters being displayed and business cards on the tables.”
For parents concerned about child safety at home the Council provide free confidential home safety visits. Contact the team on 028 9244 7864 to arrange a visit. For more information on the risk of burns and scalds visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/keeping-children-safe-burns-and-scalds