Today’s post is sponsored by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association to help spread the word about the importance of child proofing fireplace and having a fireplace safety screen. A big winter safety issue in many homes with children, is fireplace childproofing and safety. Even one burn is too many. Here are some burn prevention tips to help keep kids safe around the hot glass on gas fireplaces, wood stoves and inserts.
Fireplace Protection For Babies & Toddlers: 4 Fireplace Safety Burn Prevention Tips
Fireplace doors are not enough as they can easily be opened. Additionally, a hot glass door may cause burns itself. All of these fireplace safety burn prevention tips work together so make sure you take all four precautions.
1. Be Aware Of Fireplace Danger & Talk To Your Children
It is important the everyone in your household know that the glass and surrounding metal on a gas fireplace, stove and insert gets very hot and can stay hot even after the appliance has been turned off. Make sure that your kids and visiting children know to avoid risk of injury by not going to close or touching the a gas fireplace, stove or insert. This tip is more to help child proof the fireplace because babies may not understand your instruction. It is a helpful precaution but should not be relied on a sole measure.
2. Always Consider The Fireplace Glass Potentially Hot
Fireplace glass and metal can take an hour or more to cool down after use. Some appliances turn on and off automatically with a thermostat, so you may not know when the fire turned off. Always assume the fireplace glass is hot and tell children not to touch it even when it is turned off.
3. Supervise Children Near The Fireplace
Another important burn prevention tip is to supervise kids when they want to play in the same room as the fireplace. Injury can happen in an instant, especially with kids and those with special needs so it is important to monitor and supervise.
4. Fireplace Child-Proofing Is Essential: Fireplace Safety Screen or Fireplace Baby Gates
Because kids do not always listen or remember and because accidents happen, fireplace child-proofing is essential. Supervision is important but is no substitute for a physical barrier that can prevent direct contact. All gas-fired, certified fireplaces manufactured after January 1, 2015 will include a safety screen or protective barrier that must be installed. If your product is older than January 1, 2015, aftermarket products for fireplace child-proofing are available. These barriers are useful in order to keep family pets safe as well.
3 Types Of Childproof Fireplace Screen Barriers:
1. Attachable Fireplace Safety Screen
These should be manufacture approved for this purpose. In other words, they should be ordered as an add on for an existing electric fireplaces or come with a new fireplace purchase.
2. Free Standing Fireplace Safety Gates
A Freestanding Fireplace Safety Gate for fireplace to the perfect way to child proof the fireplace and prevent burns. These can be free standing or installed. The KidCo Custom Fit Auto Close HearthGate, pictured above provides the maximum safety in protecting your toddler from the dangers of fireplaces and free standing stoves. This one-of-a-kind gate system fits a standard 6’ hearth providing protection from the hot surfaces and flames of in-use fireplaces, accessing gas starter keys, sharp edges, hard corners and dirty logs.
Baby proofing a wood-burning stove and/or wood-burning fireplace is essential. A babyproof fireplace gate is the best way to baby-proof your fireplace because it prevents access. A well designed fireplace baby gate makes a lot of sense in every living room with a fire. In fact, it keeps the whole fireplace hearth behind the gate and removes it as a hazard. Sharp fireplace bricks without a protective fireplace gate can otherwise be a dangerous fall hazard for toddlers. This even works to keep fireplace tools out of reach.
3. Free Standing Fireplace Safety Screen
Rigorous testing was conducted to ensure that these fire safety screens are effective in preventing serious, irreversible burns. There are many styles of fireplace safety screen to fit your decorative tastes. These are best used as an older childproof fireplace screen and they may not prevent babies from trying to grab or pull on them since they do not yet understand the danger of fire.
This short video full of fireplace burn prevention tips and you can go online to learn more at SafeFireplaceTips.com.
I hope you found these fireplace burn prevention tips helpful. Let these tips move you to action so that you can have peace of mind and avoid trips to the emergency room. Do you have fireplace safety screens or fireplace safety gates?
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Kelly D says
You should install a switch lock as the easiest solution to prevent children from turning on the gas fireplace, stove or insert.
Carrie G says
I learned Starting January 1, 2015, all newly manufactured glass-fronted, gas appliances – that means fireplaces and heaters – will require a protective barrier if their glass surface temperature exceeds 172 degrees Farenheit. This safety standard requires that the barrier must be in place when the product is installed.
Cindy Peterson says
I learned all new certified fireplaces, stoves and inserts are required to have a safety screen or barrier to protect young kids from burns. It is a good idea to retro fit old electric fires and fireplace fixtures.
Char says
New fireplaces will have safety screens, wow! Thank you so much for helping us make the entire home a safer place with these child’s safety tips:)
latanya says
Make sure family members and guests are aware that the glass panel of a gas fireplace, stove or insert can be very hot
Meghan B says
Didn’t know that October is national fireplace month!
Rosanne says
You can use a free standing safety gate to prevent access to hot glass
Crystal Rogers Walker says
I like their tips on Tips on Purchasing Aftermarket Safety Products
Cole McKinnon says
I learned that glass fronts can become extremely hot during and even long after operation. I have grand babies and have not done everything that I can do to keep them safe. I need to.
Lisa says
I was impressed that attachable safety screens are a thing. I didn’t even know about them until today!!
paula brown says
Having a safety screen is most important. My fireplace was lit and the wood popped causing a piece of the embers to escape onto the carpet burning it. That is a real fire hazard in front of your fireplace and it is preventable with safety measures.
Ali C says
I learned that the glass could cause irreversible burns, testing was done to ensure that these fire safety screens are effective in preventing serious, irreversible burns. I also learned they come in decorative different styles and October is National fire safety month. Always supervise children and adults and make sure everyone knows to not touch the glass on the fireplace.
Angela Saver says
What caught my eye is that if 1/4 inch of creosote (or more) coats the inner walls of the chimney, you can have a chimney fire! I also learned that you should have your chimney professionally cleaned at least once a year. If your stove is pre-1990 or if your appliance is used frequently, it should be cleaned more than once a year!
Heather Manu says
Tips on Purchasing Aftermarket Safety Products caught my eye
Lisa Walker says
I learned that Fireplace glass and metal can take an hour or more to cool down after it’s turned off.
Tricia Jorke says
I learned that October is national fireplace month. I also learned just how nice these safety screen are as they are practical, needed and nice looking.