Burns Society of Kenya — Community Education Guide

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THE FACTS

Burns are among the most common causes of injury and death in Kenyan homes. The majority happen in the kitchen, are entirely preventable, and disproportionately affect children under five and women.

The three most common causes of burns in Kenyan homes are:

• Open cooking fires and charcoal stoves (jikos)
• Hot liquids — tea, porridge, cooking oil, and boiling water
• Kerosene lamps and stoves

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IN THE KITCHEN

• Never leave cooking unattended — most scalds happen when a pot is left on the fire and a child pulls it down
• Keep children out of the kitchen during cooking — create a physical barrier if possible
• Turn pot handles inward, away from the edge of the stove or jiko, so they cannot be grabbed or knocked over
• Never hold a child while cooking over an open flame or hot stove
• Keep hot liquids — tea, soup, porridge, cooking oil — away from the edge of tables and counters
• Let food and liquids cool before placing them within reach of children
• Never leave a hot jiko unattended or place it on the floor where children can reach it
• Allow a jiko to cool completely before moving or storing it
• Do not cook in the same room where young children are sleeping

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KEROSENE SAFETY

Kerosene is one of the leading causes of serious burns in Kenya, particularly in homes without electricity.

• Store kerosene in its original container — never in soda bottles, water bottles, or unmarked containers that a child may drink from
• Keep kerosene containers tightly sealed and locked away from children at all times
• Never refill a kerosene lamp while it is lit or still hot
• Never use kerosene to start or accelerate a fire — this causes explosive burns
• Place kerosene lamps on stable, elevated surfaces away from curtains, bedding, and children
• Extinguish kerosene lamps before sleeping
• Never leave a burning lamp in a room with a sleeping child

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ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT HOME

• Cover unused electrical sockets with socket guards, especially in homes with young children
• Never use damaged or frayed electrical cables — repair or replace them immediately
• Do not overload sockets with multiple adaptors
• Keep electrical appliances away from water
• Teach children from an early age never to insert objects into sockets
• Do not attempt to repair electrical wiring without qualified assistance

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FIRE ESCAPE PLANNING

• Know the exits from every room in your home
• Agree on a meeting point outside the house with your family in case of fire
• If fire breaks out, get low and move quickly to the exit — smoke rises and is as dangerous as flames
• Never go back into a burning building
• If your clothing catches fire: Stop. Drop. Roll. — stop running, drop to the ground, cover your face, and roll until the flames are out
• Keep a bucket of sand or water accessible in the kitchen for small fires — never use water on a burning oil fire, it causes an explosion of flame. Smother oil fires with a lid or damp cloth.

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TEACH YOUR CHILDREN

From as early as possible, teach children:

• Fire, hot water, and jikos cause serious injury
• Never touch a stove, jiko, or open flame
• Never play near a cooking fire
• If clothes catch fire — Stop, Drop, Roll
• Tell an adult immediately if they or someone else is burnt
• Never open a door that feels hot on the other side