Valentine’s Day is this weekend, and romance isn’t the only thing heating up in Nashville—February 7 – 13, 2021 is National Burn Awareness Week. While you’re planning a romantic evening with your significant other, make sure you do your part to prevent Valentine’s Day burn injuries. Check out these safety tips from the Nashville burn injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys .
Candle Safety
What better way to surprise your partner than by dimming the lights in favor of flickering candles and scattered rose petals? While we love this idea, candles can easily cause a fire when not handled properly. Follow these candle safety tips to prevent inadvertent Valentine’s Day burn injuries.
Pro tip: If you love a little mood lighting but don’t want to have to worry about burning the house down, opt for LED flameless candles.
Never Leave Lit Candles Unattended
This goes without saying, but you’d be surprised how often people get carried away and forget about the dozens of candles they’ve left burning in the other room. If you’re leaving the room for longer than a few moments, do yourself a favor and blow out any lit candles. Be especially careful if you have pets, who may accidentally knock candles over.
Keep Candles At Least 12 Inches from Anything Flammable
Make sure you keep your candles at least one foot away from anything that has the potential to catch fire. This includes furniture, drapes, clothing, bedding, carpeting, books, Valentine’s Day decorations, etc.
Keep Candles Off the Dinner Table
When it comes to preventing Valentine’s Day burn injuries, it’s best to leave candles off the dinner table unless they are securely contained. Reaching for your lover’s hand across the table? Sweet. Accidentally knocking over a candle and setting your tablecloth on fire? Not so much.
Cooking Safety
If you’re planning on spending any time in the kitchen this holiday, don’t let the wine go to your head—practice these cooking safety tips to avoid kitchen fires, thermal burns, other mishaps.
Wear Appropriate Clothing
Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing that may interfere with cooking. Long, flowing clothing can easily snag on the stove or catch on fire if you’re not careful. Wearing an apron can also protect you from hot oil splashes.
Don’t Leave Oven Mitts Near the Stove
It’s always recommended to use an oven mitt whenever you’re handling hot cooking utensils, but refrain from leaving your oven mitt or dish towels near or on the stove, which presents a major fire hazard. You should also avoid hanging dish towels on the oven door.
Know How to Handle Kitchen Fires
Most of us have only ever seen someone use a fire extinguisher in the movies. Take some time not only to locate your kitchen fire extinguisher, but also to learn how to use it properly.
Remember the PASS method to correctly operate a fire extinguisher:
- Pull the pin
- Aim at the base of the fire
- Squeeze the trigger
- Sweep from side to side
When dealing with a grease fire, remember that you should not use water to extinguish the fire. Instead, turn off the source of the heat and always smother it with a lid. You can also smother small grease fires with salt or baking soda.
Other Prevention Tips for Valentine’s Day Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can be serious and even life-threatening. Here are some additional tips to avoid burn injuries on Valentine’s Day.
Use Caution Around Fireplaces
If your Valentine’s Day plans include curling up with a loved one beside the fireplace, be sure to exercise caution. Only use dry kindling in your fireplace, and never add chemicals like kerosene to an indoor fireplace. Additionally, keep your fireplace clean and as with any other fire, don’t leave your fireplace unattended.
Be Careful When Using Hair Appliances
If you’re getting ready for a night out on the town with your partner, be careful when using hair appliances like curling irons or hair straighteners. Keep these hot objects away from small children and never leave them unattended while they are still plugged in.
Mind the Temperature in Baths and Spas
Whether you’re staying home to enjoy a romantic bath for two or have booked a couples spa package, always use caution when drawing a bath or entering a hot tub or sauna. Even brief contact with extremely hot water or steam can cause scalding burns. Always test the water before jumping in and keep your home water heater set at or below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent Valentine’s Day burn injuries.
What To Do After Suffering a Burn Injury
Burn injuries can occur under many circumstances and are often accidental. That being said, sometimes burn injuries occur as a result of someone else’s negligence or due to a dangerous product. If you suffer from Valentine’s Day burn injuries through no fault of your own, you could be entitled to compensation from the party at fault for your injuries.
Contact Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys at 615-333-8888 to schedule a free consultation and discuss the details of your case with a Nashville burn injury attorney. You can also chat with a live representative online, or submit your free case review from the comfort of your own home.