Almost 20 Victorian children are treated in hospital for burns involving hair straighteners and curlers each year.
A large majority of those injuries were children under four, who aren’t able to understand the dangers.
CEO of Kidsafe Victoria, Melanie Courtney said the devices are designed to heat up quickly and can take up to half an hour to cool down.
“Young children are particularly at risk as they are naturally inquisitive and don’t yet understand the hazards posed by these products when still hot,” she said.
“They may see their parents or older siblings using these devices and be drawn towards them to take a closer look.”
She says a child’s skin is much thinner than an adult’s, so these types of burns can leave permanent scars and require ongoing treatment.
How to reduce the risk of injury
• Switch off and unplug the device immediately after use
• Place devices into a heatproof pouch immediately after use. Some devices come with these safety products, while others can be purchased
• Always keep devices up high out of the sight and reach of little hands
• If a burn does occur, run the affected area under cool running water for 20 minutes.
