Safeguard Against Scalding Water

(CBS)  If you have small kids, baby proofing your home is probably a top priority.

But you may be overlooking one serious danger -- your tap water.

"Early Show" consumer correspondent Susan Koeppen said when you think of the water in your home -- especially in the tub -- drowning is usually the main concern, but the water temperature can be dangerous -- even deadly -- if your hot water heater is set too high.

Shelly McGammon's 11-month-old daughter Leah died just days before her first birthday, after being burned over 80 percent of her body. But it didn't happen in a fire. It happened in her grandmother's bathtub.

Judy Burke, Leah's grandmother, said, "Within seconds, she was burned. The minute the hot water hit her body in seconds she was burned that severely."

Burke had left her granddaughter for just a minute in a nearly empty tub -- but in those moments -- little Leah reached up and turned on the hot water full blast.

"I never ever thought the heat could cause a child to be burned that badly," Burke said.

McGammon said, "No one ever told me that hot water could burn a child severely, so I had no idea, no idea."

Leah suffered third-degree burns. She died three days later in her mother's arms at the hospital.

According to John Drengenberg, a safety expert at Underwriters Laboratories, thousands of people are burned every year in the bathtub.

He said, "We have statistic that shows that many thousands of people are burned due to tap water, which is something that is so common in your home, and yet can be very dangerous if it's too hot."

Drengenberg says you need to lower the temperature on your hot water heater.

Koeppen asked Drengenberg, "Do you think most people know what their water heater is even set at?"

"Certainly not," he answered. "It's not very common for people to adjust their water heater, but for parents -- especially new parents -- take a look at your water heater, and set the control so the water is less than 120 degrees."

McGammon and her family had no idea their hot water heater was set too high for children.

McGammon said, "The hope or goal would be that at least one person would see this interview and turn their hot water heater down, so they don't have the same tragic accident happen in their family that's happened in ours."

Koeppen added that experts say if run your hot water, and you can put your hand under the water for 30 seconds without pain, you probably have your water set at a safe temperature for your children.

Koeppen also shared a device to help prevent water burns: a hot stop.

The hot stop, Koeppen explained, brings water down to a trickle if the water gets too hot.

[DONNA_HOFFMAN]

she's just a baby. have anything done to address this issue? nobody would surely want such thing to happen again. we all make mistake and let's hope and pray that this will not happen again. now we know how dangerous it is.

[tjosephjr]

Yes, this is a news story. The news is that there are now devices out there, some contributable in part to Leah, to ensure that this doesn't happen to another child. The news is that there's a way to safeguard against such an unfortunate incident happening to someone you love. Why in God's name would you attack the family? Do you feel they haven't suffered enough? Do you think it's easy for them to get on TV and relive this, as they have many, many times? Do you think it's easy for anyone and everyone involved to have that pain dug up again and again? Are you so egotistical to think that neither you nor any member of your family need to listen to safety advice regarding children? You'd best tread lightly as Karma is a b*tch.
And to make this a race issue? That is pathetic. You have no idea what investigation was done. And as far as the liberal comment at the beginning of these comments, well, that just shows how misinformed you obviously are...

[titans58]

BTW I dont have to turn my "up High" hot water heater down...Ill just know NEVER to leave my grandkids alone in the tub as Ive never done!!!!! You liberals and changing everything because of tragic kills me. Just dont leave a baby alone in a bath tub and no one has to change there settings on a water heater. Its that simply. Putting the blame on the water heater is a cop out.

[tjosephjr]

Something is seriously wrong with you. A, they're not liberals, unfortunately. B, they are not "changing everything." C, it's a safety option, key word being option. The Gestapo will not be heading over to your trailer to install any of these devices on your water heater. And how dare you use a news story where someone shares their tragedy to inform the public of safety devices that are available to safeguard against this happening to anyone else as a vehicle to attack the family and tout what an almighty parent you are. Your children may not be physically harmed, but I can certainly see some psyche damage in their future. Unfortunately, there's no safeguard for that, unless you choose birth control...

[linlinlsusie]

I also know this family personally..I know that these lady's have more love in them than a lot of us can only wish for..If god grants you the chance to cross people like them in you life..Consider yourself lucky..If there is a parent or a grandparent out there who say's they haven't turned there eye for a minute they need to stop and think again..If that was the case I guess there wouldn't be any children at the hospital for a broken bone,stitches where they fell,at the park and god forbid they are missing..All for turning your eye for a min..As far as the mother saying she didn't know hot water burned..I know what she was trying to say..She wasn't aware of the fact that the water out of the water heater would be that hot..By the way I didn't.. DID ALL OF YOU??? Think of everything before you judge another person..Think of things that you might do that you might not be aware of..
I commend them for sharing there story, and trying to let other people know the dangers of how hot the water can be from the water heater..And trying to save other lives because of this...

[titans58]

Well for me..Ive never left my kids in a tub alone when they were 11 months old because I know they dont no any better and could do something dangeruous or drown. As for getting stitches..well yes but as they get bigger you kind of have to let them spread there wings so its not the same. You cant compare a 11 month old left alone ( even for a second) to a 10 year old falling off a swing or a porch and having to get stitches. Its not the same. So you can keep trying to convince people but it isnt going to work for many of us. The grandmother was trerribly wrong in what she did and a tragic was a result from it.

[ann4545]

Life can change in an instant.

It may be as you drive down the road and drop your cell phone and pick it up.

It may be when you are tired and fall asleep for an instant while driving.

It may be when you let your child out of the car and they immediately run as you are getting another child out of the car.

It may be when you go out of a room and get distracted by a distressful phone call.

Everyone has had an experience where your life could have turned into a nightmare in an instant. Most people are lucky that nothing happened.

Those who live on after those nightmares become reality have to live with their mistakes. You could charge her with any crime and her punishment could not be as bad as the memories of this tragic accident.

No-one thinks it can happen to them.

-- Don?t be so quick to judge others.

I thought my home was child proofed, but I had not checked my water heater. Thank you for the suggestion.

Could some of the new tank less water heaters provide safer, lower temperature ?hot? water making it unnecessary for the old and unsafe water heaters? It is my understanding that elderly people also frequently get scalded.

[tjosephjr]

Very well said...

[DBB05]

You are all drastically missing the point of this piece. It was not on leaving a child unattended, it was pointing out a danger that most people are completely unaware of. I personally know this family and for me to describe them as incredible people is a serious understatement. What unfortunately was not pointed out in the segment was the amazing contributions that they have made in their efforts, of both time and money, making people aware of this danger. In addition to endless fundraising for the Children's Hospital that cared for Leah. A large part of their daily lives is given to recognize and honor the loss of this beautiful child. This family was not broken apart by a tragedy but instead made a conscience choice to tell this story in her honor to save the lives of countless other children. I can't think of a more selfless act than that.

Although it is easy and human nature to judge others, I invite you to view this segment again with this information in mind and see if you come to the same conclusion. As a parent I make mistakes daily, sometimes hourly and I am thankful that there are others, as courageous as this family, to make me aware of dangers to my children that I have not otherwise considered. My hope is that you will take time to consider this as well, pass on this story to other parents. I promise you that you will be surprised how many people are unaware of this danger and will benefit from the information.

[titans58]

Your missing the point, its not the hot water, its a bad error on a adult. I make mistakes to but never would I ever had made a mistake in leaving a 11 month old for 1 sec alone in a tub. never. if you think thats a normal mistake then you need to have your kids taken away. Thats just flippin common sense not to leave a small child alone. I think most parents know the dangers in hot water heaters and pretty much all parents that have any brains also know the dangers in leaving a small child alone in a tub. Nothing you say will excuse the loss of this child. Nothing.

[swillick]

I am so outraged by this story. I think what happened to the little girl was so sad. If anyone was paying attention to the news clip, the water heater didn't kill the baby. The adults taking care of her walked away from her. If an adult had been in the bathroom with her she would not have turned the faucet to make the water hotter. This was not the water heaters fault. Yes I do agree they should be set to the correct temp. for children but she should have had an adult in the bathroom with her.

[titans58]

I have agree. My heart goes out to the family but the water didnt kill this child. Im just sorry if people dont want to hear the truth. This is a news site not a site for just sympathies. Why on earth would a adult that should know better leave a 11 month old unattended for even a second? Thats the problem weather anyone will admitt it. I dont oussy foot around and this grandmother will live with this guilt till she dies and thats going to be hard to bear. We have our hot water heater set on very high because it is whats best for us because we have so many showers and baths in this house to take that it heats up faster and you cant make super hot water go farther when its shower/bath time. Im so tired of because some tragic that the news media goes on a frenzy and wants to blame the water ...the blame is the adult for leaving a poor defenseless helpless child alone. All it takes is that one second for anything to happen. Thats called neglegence and there is no other way of putting it. If she was a poor black women living in the projects you can bet that child services would be all up in her house if their where other kids. Just remeber before bashing me for speaking the truth...this is a news site and I have a right to say how I feel about this whole situation. You want to give sympathies...go to there web site that Im sure ixsist for giving your sympathies for the poor child that isnt here anymore because a adult made a bad bad mistake in not caring properly for a child.

[tjosephjr]

This is not your story about which to be outraged. The story is about what can happen and the safeguards now available. Period...

[fugitive351]

I am a professional firefighter/EMT. Unfortunately I have witnessed children getting scolded in a tub. Once again its a case of "i only left her for a minute", well if you left the baby long enough for it to turn on the hot water than you left it long enough to drown. Obviously people refuse to understand that it only takes a second for something so irrepairable to go wrong. Secondly, most new parents live in apartments where as you do not have access to the hot water heater. Its your main job as a parent to safeguard your baby, you are suppose to be the smart one. Oh thats right, no one told her hot water burns....Somebody better tell her if she walks in the rain, she will get wet.

[joadun]

This is a tragic loss of a child but for the mother to say "No one ever told me that hot water could burn a child severely, so I had no idea, no idea" is startling in and of itself. Hot water burns! I can see a lawsuit coming to the manufacturer of her hot water heater. Personal responsibility unfortunately is dead. Just like the woman who sued McDonalds over hot coffee.

[martjm]

Tragic story. But is this woman for real? "No one ever told me hot water could burn a child .....". You have got to be the dumbest person on the earth. Do I have to tell you that jumping off a roof could kill you? If this were a single afro-american mother, she would be charged with child-endeangerment or murder. Also, I will give Ms. Koeppen $1 million if she can find me a "hot water heater". You take cold water and heat it to make it hot. It is a "water heater". Why would you heat hot water?