The CARES Safety Center Newsletter
Bringing Safety to the Baltimore City Community
Volume 2, Issue 1
WINTER 2010
You Can Prevent Scald Burns
A scald burn happens when skin is burned by a hot liquid or steam and can
be just as bad as a burn from a fire. Did you know that 1 of every 4 scald
burns of children are caused by hot tap water? Children have very thin skin
The CARES Safety
Center is a "house on
wheels" that promotes the
safety of children and
families by delivering fun,
interactive education and
affordable safety products
to the community.
and can burn very easily. Water at 140°F could scald a child’s skin in just 3
seconds!
Bathtub Safety Tips
 Set your water heater temperature to 120°F.
The Safety Center is
available to visit health
fairs, schools, head starts,
medical clinics, places of
worship and community
events throughout
Baltimore City.

If your water heater is set any higher, children could be
To Request the CARES
Safety Center to attend
your next event, contact
us at…
baby’s bath water before every bath. The water should be
burned when they wash their hands or if they turn on the
faucet while in the bathtub.
Always use a thermometer to test the temperature of your
between 90°F and 100°F.
Phone: (410) 955-4121
 Follow these steps when preparing a baby’s bath water:
Email: [email protected]
Or, fill out our online
1. Fill the bath with about 1 inch of water.
request form at
2. Test the water temperature with a thermometer.
www.hopkinscares.org
Remember:
It is not enough to test a
child’s bath water with
your hand or elbow.
An adult’s skin is much
thicker than a child’s. So,
what may feel warm to you
could be scalding to a
child.
Use a thermometer to test
the temperature of the
bath water every time.
3. If the water is between 90°F and 100°F, place the
child in the water.
The Johns Hopkins CARES
Safety Center is brought to you
by the Center for Injury
Research and Policy and the
Baltimore City Fire
Department.
4. Never leave a child alone in the bathtub.
If you have any questions about preventing scald burns or about home safety products,
call the CARES Safety Center at 410-955-4121.
Financial support provided by: