National Burn Awareness Week, sponsored by the American Burn Association (ABA), takes place annually during the first full week of February. It provides an opportunity for burn survivor support groups, public safety, and other professionals to promote awareness of the frequency of burn injuries in the US. It also highlights the advances in and sources of burn care available.

This year’s theme is Burn Prevention Starts Where You Live.

The ABA notes that simple measures like testing smoke alarms, setting water heaters to safe temperatures, and securely storing flammable items can significantly reduce the risk of injury.

To avoid injuries, the ABA offers these helpful tips:

• Supervise children around hot objects at all times
• Stand at least 3’ feet away from hot outdoor objects like grills and pizza ovens. Keep those areas clear of trip hazards as well 
• Protect your feet from hot objects by wearing shoes when walking on hot pavement or sand. Keep pets off hot pavement, too
• Turn heating pads and blankets off before sleep
• After cooking, make sure all appliances are turned off
• Have hot pads nearby whenever cooking. Assume all pots and pans are hot. Use long oven mitts when reaching in or over hot surfaces like ovens and grills
• Treat items coming out of the microwave with the same caution that you would when using the oven 
• Keep irons, hair dryers, and curling irons out of the reach of children and unplug when not in use

This year’s National Burn Awareness Week will be observed February 2-8.