Five Burn Safety Tips to Avoid Summer Fun That's Too Hot to Handle

Summer fun can spark burn injuries in children, so it’s important to be mindful of outdoor activities. Between fire pits, fireworks, and barbecues, kids are more likely to get burned this time of year with bonfires, cookouts, and summer holiday fun.

It’s easy to trip and fall into smoldering ashes or coals, especially in the dark. Those smoldering dangers can stay hot for hours after a fire, with burns on hands and feet being the most common injuries. Jill Whitehouse, MD, chief of Surgery and vice-chief of Pediatric General Surgery at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, shares burn safety tips so you and your family can enjoy summer fun without getting burned.

Five Tips to Stay Burn Safe This Summer

1. Don’t Spark Trouble

It doesn’t take a big fire to cause a big problem. Something as small as a sparkler can cause serious damage. Sparklers can burn eyes, hands, feet, and clothing. They can get up to between 1200 and 1600 degrees and that’s way too hot for little hands to touch.

2. Fireworks and Kids Don’t Mix

They definitely should not be handling fireworks of any size under any circumstances. The only way they are safe for kids are when they are viewed from at least 150 feet away and when being handled by professional adults.

3. Be on the Lookout at Your Next Cookout

If you’re using a barbecue or fire pit, kids should be at least three feet from the grill and supervised all the time. Even hours after the grill has been turned off, it can still be hot, so it’s important to maintain a distance until everything’s nice and cool.

4. Create Burn Boundaries

For older kids, draw a line in the sand at a safe distance from danger and let them know they aren’t to cross it. If your kids are younger, try a baby gate or dog fence to keep kids from hot surfaces. Your barbecue or grill should be away from the house, any play equipment, and the kids.

5. S’more Fun Not to Get Burned

Keeping a three-foot distance can make marshmallow roasts challenging, but it’s more important to practice burn safety. Parents should roast marshmallows for their small kids and get them involved with putting it all together. Older kids can use long roasting sticks to stay away from the fire.

The heat of the summer should be something to enjoy, and with these fire safety tips, you can light up the night and make sure your kids are alright! Happy holidays, and enjoy burn-safe festivities with your family.

For more burn safety tips, visit our Injury Prevention page.