Shriners Hospitals offers these steps to help prevent scald burn injuries:

Safety in the bath

• Generally the water in a child's bath should not be hotter than 100 degrees Farenheit.
• Run cold water into the tub first, then add hot water to reach a safe temperature. This will prevent a scald burn if the child should touch the water or go into the tub while it is being filled.
• Before placing a child into the bathtub, check the temperature of the water by moving your hand through the water for a few seconds. If the water feels hot, it is too hot for the child.
• Toys in the bathtub may establish the tub and bathroom as a play area. Give the child a washcloth instead of a toy.
• Face the child away from the faucets and keep them closer to the other end of the tub (away from the faucets).

Safety in the kitchen

• Keep children at a safe distance from hot liquids. A drink heated to 140 degrees Farenheit can cause a burn in 5 seconds. At 160 degrees Farenheit, a burn will occur in 1 second. A child's quick movement could spill hot fluid and cause a serious burn.
• When toddlers are in the home, avoid using a tablecloth. If a child tries to pull himself up by the tablecloth, a heavy object or hot liquid on the table could fall on the child.
• Keep all hot items near the center of the table to prevent a young child from reaching them.
• While cooking, keep young children in a high chair or playpen, at a safe distance from hot surfaces, hot liquids and other kitchen hazards.
• Use extra caution if you use deep fat (oil) cookers/ fryers when young children are present. The fat or oil may reach temperatures over 400 degrees Farenheit, hot enough to instantly cause a very serious burn.
• Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter receptacles near sinks and other wet areas.
• Keep appliance cords away from the edge of counters, and keep them unplugged and disconnected when not in use. A dangling cord is dangerous because it can get caught in a cabinet door or be pulled on by a curious child.
• Always use oven mitts or potholders to remove pots and pans from the stove.
• Keep pot handles turned in so the pots cannot be pulled off or knocked off the stove.
• Store cookies and other foods away from the stove area so no one will be tempted to reach across a hot burner. Store potholders, paper towels, seasonings and other cooking items at a safe distance from the stove.
• Establish a "SAFE AREA" in the kitchen where a child can be placed � away from risk, but under continuous supervision. Also, consider establishing a "NO ZONE" directly in front of the stove. Teach your child to avoid this area. You can mark the zone with yellow tape, a piece of bright carpet or other material. Use a fill-through-the-spout teapot to reduce the risk of hot water-associated scald burns. The central handle, the single, small opening, and a "spout whistle" are all safety features.

Create a safe environment

• Lower the thermostat setting of the water heater to 120-125 degrees Farenheit. This temperature should provide plenty of hot water for normal household activities. The maximum temperature should not be higher than 125 degrees Farenheit.
• NOTE: At 130 degrees Farenheit, a serious burn can occur in 30 seconds. At 140 degrees, only 5 seconds are required. The time may be reduced by 50 percent or more for children under age 5 and some adults over 65.
• Gas water heaters can be adjusted easily. Electric water heaters require disconnecting (shutting off) the electricity to the water heater and removing the cover plates to adjust the thermostat. Check with your utility company for directions to adjust an electric water heater.
• After the thermostat is turned down, check the temperature 24 hours later by running the hot water to make sure the temperature is low enough to be safe.
• Consider installing pressure balancing/ thermostatically controlled shower/tub valves which reduce the water temperature to 115 degrees Farenheit or less. These valves can be attached to the bathtub fixtures, installed in the wall at the bathtub, or connected at the water heater. These temperature-controlling valves vary in cost and installation requirements, and can be purchased at some hardware stores or through plumbers. The resulting safety is worth the cost.