On a cold winter’s day, few things are as inviting as a warm roaring fire. But if you have toddlers in the home, it’s best to leave your gas fireplace off and watch a festive yule log on TV instead.
That’s the word from Steven Moulton, MD, professor of surgery at the University of Colorado in the Department of Surgery and former director of the burn unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado. The Children’s Colorado burn unit sees 25 to 30 children each year who sustain second- to third-degree burns from placing their hands on the front glass panel of a hot gas fireplace, Moulton says — nationally, the number exceeds 100 children per year.
Since 2015, all newly manufactured glass-fronted fireplaces are required to include an installed protective barrier, but many homes are still equipped with pre-2015 fireplaces that pose a hazard to children.
We spoke with Moulton about the issue and what parents need to know.