Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services and The British Columbia Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund are pleased to support Burn Awareness Week from February 5 - February 11, 2012.  Fire and burn injuries are the second leading cause of accidental death in children aged one to four years, and the third leading cause of injury and death for those aged one to eighteen.

Every year fires are started by children playing with lighters or matches. Many of these fires are caused by children under the age of five. Children as young as 18 months have caused fires by operating lighters. Disposable lighters sold by retailers must be child-resistant, but remember, child-resistant does not mean childproof. Store lighters out of sight and out of the reach of children and do not remove the child safety devices from the lighter.

Every year an estimated 40 children, age 14 and under, die from fires and other burns. Another 770 are hospitalized for serious injuries. Fires and flames account for 34% of hospitalizations and fireplaces and woodstoves account for 7.5%.

A survey suggests that 70% of Canadian parents did not know that the most common cause of burn injuries to children is scalds from hot liquids, such as spilled hot drinks and hot tap water, rather than fire.

• The glass barrier on your gas fireplace can heat up to over 200°C (400°F) in about six minutes during use. It takes an average of 45 minutes for the fireplace to cool to a safe temperature after the fire is switched off.
• Hot water burns like fire - hot liquids, not fire, are the most common causes of burns to young children,
• 90% of hot water burns happen at home with 65% occurring in the bathroom,
• Chances are, the hot water temperature in your home is set too high,
• A child' skin is thinner and burns quicker than an adult's - a safe temperature for your hot water heater is 49 C or (120 F).