Iron safety

It's easy to leave the iron switched on while you answer the phone or the door. But a child could pull the cord or knock over the ironing board and be severely burned by the falling iron. That's why we prefer irons with auto cut-off.

What if a child does get burned? Here's what Safekids New Zealand recommends.

• Run cold water gently over the burn for at least 20 minutes. Don’t touch the burn or burst any blisters as this could cause infection.
• Remove clothing from the affected area once it has cooled. If the clothing sticks don’t pull it away – cut around the fabric.
• Cover the burn with clean non-fluffy material – such as a sheet – or loosely cover it with plastic wrap to prevent infection. DON’T use ice, butter or oil on the burn.
• Get medical advice immediately from your doctor or Plunketline 0800 933 922 … or call 111.

Report by Bev Frederikson.