Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 11/00) - The most important step in preventing burn injuries is simple -- turn down the water heater.

"We had a senior die in this community after going into a bathtub that was too hot and it badly burned the person," says Yellowknife deputy fire chief Mike Lowing.

Water heaters need not warm water any more than 49 degrees Celsius, Lowing said.

Candles are also to blame when it comes to burn injuries.

"In the latter part of the 1990s, there have been more and more fires and burns from candles nationwide," Lowing said.

Burns can result from clothing catching fire as people brush by a candle's open flame or when people put them out.

The quality of candles is also a factor, cheap ones running and burning faster.

Where the candles are located and what type of container they are in should also be considered, Lowing said.

"The kitchen is the number one area for burns," he added. "Burns seen in children are usually liquid burns from pulling something off the stove or climbing on it and tipping it over."

Lowing suggests a kid-free safety zone be put in place, one metre away from the stove. He also recommends turning pot handles inward and not carrying children while holding hot drinks or dishes.