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The American Academy of Pediatrics sounded a warning recently over the number of children getting injured by an everyday kitchen appliance. Their research suggests we parents should add the microwave to our radar to Stay Safe.
To avoid scalding our children, we've heard the warning: Turn down the temperature on your water heater. But a recent study, titled "Getting Beyond Tap Water," showed a growing problem, as the microwave becomes the primary cooking source for American families.
"One of the things that worries me is some of the food that's marketed for kids that they prepare themselves that involves the microwave," said pediatrician Dr. Sandra Phillips.
That's one of the things that concerned American Academy of Pediatricians conducting the study: kids as young as 18 months old getting burned because they can open the microwave. Second, was the number of kids getting burned by older siblings who were trying to help get food out of the microwave and spilled it.
The injuries can be serious, the consequences long lasting. Hot soup burned Doris Licona's daughter's foot 18 months ago. "She couldn't walk for several weeks. She couldn't walk at all," Licona said.
The foot still hurts and may need surgery.
Medical teams at the University of Utah's burn unit see another common error that involves babies. "Someone heats up a baby's bottle. It's not hot to the touch, they go to give it to the child. The actual lid will pop off because there's a lot of steam and heat inside the bottle, then it explodes all over the child," said. Brad Riggins, with University Hospital's burn trauma center.
To Stay Safe:- Burn unit teams don't recommend heating baby bottles in the microwave.
- Doctors in the study conclude that parents need to better supervise children in the kitchen.
- Kids under 7 shouldn't microwave by themselves.
- Parents should keep microwaves out of reach
- Parents should not hold children while handling hot food.
Licona's 4-year-old daughter gave us some good advice of her own. "Don't step in hot soup," she said.
Doctors in the study also called on microwave manufacturers to change the design of microwaves so kids can't open them.
To read the study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, CLICK HERE.
We've also provided some extra tips from the doctors we talked to. CLICK HERE to see our questions and their answers.
E-mail: dwimmer@ksl.com
