When is Hot Water Too Hot?
The New York State Consumer Protection Board has issued a directive urging consumers to make sure their children and loved ones are protected from extremely painful and possibly fatal scalding burns.
NEW YORK, NY, April 25, 2012
The New York State Consumer Protection Board has issued a directive urging consumers to make sure their children and loved ones are protected from extremely painful and possibly fatal scalding burns. If you or someone you love has been scarred, disfigured, or disabled due to burn injuries, contact a New York litigation lawyer to learn more about your legal rights. Here are some helpful hints:- Home water temperature should be set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
- All domestic hot water lines should have an anti-scald device installed to interrupt the flow of hot water when the temperature reaches a certain level.
- Bath water should be tested by an adult with their wrist or elbow before a child is placed into the bathtub. NEVER put a child into an empty bath tub before the water is run.
- Always place a child into the tub with his back to the faucets so that they cannot grab or turn them.
- Make certain that all faucets are clearly labeled "HOT" or "COLD"
- Have your landlord, superintendent or plumber make certain that the water line supplying the toilet is not on the same line as the cold water supply to the shower or sink. This will prevent a sudden lessening of cold water to the shower if the toilet is flushed while the shower is being run.
Children under 4 are at the greatest risk with an injury death rate of more than two times that of children ages 5 to 14. Children exposed to hot tap water at 140 degrees Fahrenheit for three seconds will sustain a third-degree burn which will require hospitalization and skin grafts. Hot tap-water burns account for nearly one-fourth of all scalding burns among children and is associated with more deaths and hospitalizations than other hot liquid burns.
Burn injuries can have a lifelong impact on all people, but especially children. These painful injuries can result in permanent nerve and tissue damage, as well as scarring and disfigurement. Sadly, many burn victims are unaware that they have legal recourse and may be able to recover money damages. If you or your child suffers burn injuries, it's wise to contact an experienced New York lawyer to explore your legal options.
The personal injury attorneys in New York City, at the Tolmage, Peskin, Harris & Falick law firm, have experience handling personal injury lawsuits and burn injury cases. If you have been in an accident or been injured due to someone else's negligence, you should consider contacting our law firm right away for a free personal injury consultation. Contact us by telephone at 212-964-1390, or visit our website http://www.stephanpeskin.com/ or YouTube video channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/StephanPeskin, for more information.
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Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick
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New York NY 10007
Phone: (212) 964-1390
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Additional Resources:
Filing a Lawsuit in New York: http://www.stephanpeskin.com/CM/Custom/NewYorkLawsuitFilingSteps.asp
Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer: http://www.stephanpeskin.com/CM/NewYorkLegalHelp/Why-Hire-Personal-Injury-Lawyer.asp
NY Wrongful Death Lawsuits: http://www.stephanpeskin.com/PracticeAreas/Wrongful-Death.asp