TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2011//
TI  - Behaviors of young children around microwave ovens
JO  - Journal of trauma
A1  - Robinson, Marla R.
A1  - O'Connor, Annemarie
A1  - Wallace, Lindsay
A1  - Connell, Kristen
A1  - Tucker, Katherine
A1  - Strickland, Joseph
A1  - Taylor, Jennifer
A1  - Quinlan, Kyran P.
A1  - Gottlieb, Lawrence J.
SP  - S534
EP  - 6
VL  - 71
IS  - 5 Suppl 2
N2  - BACKGROUND: Scald burn injuries are the leading cause of burn-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations for young children. A portion of these injuries occur when children are removing items from microwave ovens. This study assessed the ability of typically developing children aged 15 months to 5 years to operate, open, and remove the contents from a microwave oven. METHODS: The Denver Developmental Screening Test II was administered to confirm typical development of the 40 subjects recruited. All children recruited and enrolled in this study showed no developmental delays in any domain in the Denver Developmental Screening Test II. Children were observed for the ability to open both a push and pull microwave oven door, to start the microwave oven, and to remove a cup from the microwave oven. RESULTS: All children aged 4 years were able to open the microwaves, turn on the microwave, and remove the contents. Of the children aged 3 years, 87.5% were able to perform all study tasks. For children aged 2 years, 90% were able to open both microwaves, turn on the microwave, and remove the contents. In this study, children as young as 17 months could start a microwave oven, open the door, and remove the contents putting them at significant risk for scald burn injury. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention efforts to improve supervision and caregiver education have not lead to a significant reduction in scald injuries in young children. A redesign of microwave ovens might prevent young children from being able to open them thereby reducing risk of scald injury by this mechanism.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-5282
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e31823a4d42
ID  - ref1
ER  -