My heart goes out to the parents and family of a 2-year-old American boy, who tragically died last Wednesday as the result of a scalding burn. His arm, neck and torso were scalded four days earlier, when the boy was reaching for a tumbler of hot water that had been boiled to prepare tea. Doctors now research the results from microbiology and toxicology tests to conclude how the scald could develop into a fatal.

Since I started my MummyMug adventure in 2007, I have come across study after study that repeat the same message: scalds from hot drinks are frequent and cause serious injury in children.

But this is the first case of a hot water scald injury resulting in death that I have ever seen reported. Should this unnecessary accident in spite of all precautions you take happen in your home: please — take the advice to see the doc­tor if the scald is larger than a poststamp. Let’s make sure we never have reason to publish a piece of news like this one again.

In new research published at Malmo University, Sweden, Anna Carlsson (PhD), confirms the picture that we see over and over again in accident statistics around the world: hot liquid is a major culprit of scalds in small children.

The study kept track of the number of children being brought to health posts and hospitals in one city in Sweden for treatment. 148 children came for burn injuries. 80% of those injuries were scalds, caused by hot liquid (71%) or hot food (29%). The greatest number was boys between one and two years old.

Second, Anna analysed the causes of the scalds.  One key conclusion is that an accidental scald is more likely to happen when something is unusual and out of the daily routine:  during a sudden visit by a friend or when a family member was tired, stressed or ill.

Another trigger was the misjudgement of the child’s capabilities. Given the quick motoric developments that children go through during their first years, the parents expressed that they often didn’t realise that the child had acquired the capacity to for example actively reach for a cup until the accident had already occurred.

I just had a lovely email exchange with Louice, who runs 2 volunteer led baby and toddler groups in a Berwick-upon-Tweed in the North of England. 40 families use the group she has started to get together, support each other and have fun.

Precisely what playgroups are all about — see my previous blog posts on coffee morning / playgroup safety, what to serve and other tips.

Due to safety reasons, Louice avoids serving hot drinks to parents in her groups. Smart.

But she inquired about the MummyMug to be able to instead serve hot drinks safely — smarter!!

As they operate on a shoestring budget, we have discussed a cooperation whereby we could consider sponsoring the group with mugs once it reaches the market.

Let’s hope we can make that happen! I can’t wait to hear the stories and see the pics from the happy faces of Mums and Dads finally being able to enjoy their tea again. Thanks again Louise for getting in touch!

In many playgroups, the members simply take turns hosting the playgroup in their own homes. Which is not only an afforable but also very warm and friendly way to organise a suitable venue. But especially if the playgroup is organised in a home environment, it is useful to agree on some Ground Rules and take some simple measures, to keep it safe for everybody and avoid unnecessary damage to your belongings. Because as much as your home probably is adapted to the life of one toddler or two, it is quite different to have perhaps as many as ten running around.

- Ownership. Spell it out the obvious: everyone is responsible for safety. Although you’ll surely want to chat and relax, each Mum must actively keep at least one eye on their own children.

- Overview. Cleary decide in which area of your home the playgroup participants should stay — preferably in an open space where the adults can sit down but always can see the kids. Check the floor carefully for any small forgotten items and toys that toddlers could choke on. — Make sure that any gates in front of stairs are securely closed.

Don’t be shy to close off the rest of your home: lock the door to your home office and if possible, try to close off the kitchen so that no children can wander in there unsupervised. Also put toys that you know your child for sure does not want to share or would not like to see get broken, in one of the off-limits rooms.

- Protection. In the area you do provide as play space, remove all fragile items or at least put them out of toddler reach. Cover that white couch with a blanket that easily can be thrown in the wash.

- Provide a central play point. Put a blanket on the floor in the middle of the room, and put the toys you would like to share in the group on it. It will  make it an inviting place for the kids to sit and play together in a place where you can see them.

- Make it possible for them to run around safely. Remove any rugs on which kids who run around playing hide-and-seek easily could trip and fall. If you have furniture with sharp corners, consider placing corner covers.

- Stay healthy. Agree that any child (or Mum) with a fever, stomach virus or other transmittable disease stays away from the playgroup meeting. Agree that all kids wash their hands before they grab the snacks.

-  Keep it spill-free. Serve the kids drinks in small cartons with straws, and serve tea and coffee to the adults in lidded cups, such as the MummyMug, to avoid spillage and scalds. Never ever leave for example a kettle or a teapot on the table, but serve and put it back in the kitchen.

- But just in case… Check in advance where you have your first aid kit and that it is still properly stocked with band aids — so you know where to look should an accident still happen.

I stumbled across this video on Home Safety on YouTube, posted by the UK Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Of course curious what their possible message on the risks of scalds from hot beverages would be. And indeed: they certainly highlight the damage that can be caused by showing the accident as it happens from the child’s point of view. A powerful way of illustrating the risks we take, or let our children take, rather, and to make us feel the danger in our bones. The voiceover complements the images: for us adults, a spilled cup of coffee means a 2-minute hassle to re-boil the kettle. But for your child, it can mean two months in hospital to  treat the skin grafts.

However — where I don’t agree is on their prevention strategy. The father in the clip places the coffee cup in the middle of the table as a preventive move.

That is good.

But I do believe the MummyMug is a way better. Just like the mother in the video clip places a security gate in front of the stairs to prevent a fall, we should choose for a smart solution also for scalding burns.

This inspired me to do something long overdue: to update the section of the MummyMug homepage on the reality of scalding burns: now you can find a range of statistics, reports and, last but not least, tips and a video instruction on how to deal with a scald, should the accident nevertheless happen. Hope you will find it useful!