The dangers of bath-time

A new thermostat could prevent accidents

For many parents it does not bear thinking about, but if you leave your child unsupervised in the bath, it could lead to serious injuries from scalding, and that could mean a life of psychological and physical pain.

The government is announcing measures to prevent scalding in the bath which at the moment, affects hundreds of children every year.

In some of the worst cases affecting children under three, this can lead to 20-50% burns if the whole body is submerged into hot water.

Actress Amanda Redman was scalded in an accident when she was a child has put her name to a charity which aims to prevent burns and scalding to children.

She will be joined by government minister Phil Hope who will be discussing the changes to building regulations to make baths safer.

Ms Redman is now a patron of the Children's Fire and Burns Trust. On its website she says: "As a small child I pulled a pot of boiling soup over myself and received severe burns over my entire body.

"Regardless of the scar on my left arm I went about achieving my ambition to be an actress. Being so aware of the pain and trauma involved with such burns and how easily they can occur, I strongly believe that prevention by way of education cannot be valued too highly."

Building regulations are about to be changed to help prevent scalding injuries. Mr Hope wants anyone building a new home or converting an existing bathroom to fit special thermostatic mixing valves which prevent the water becoming too hot.

Water temperature will be made a part of building controls, but probably won't become law until early 2006.

Trauma

Amanda was left permanently scarred down her left arm

Amanda Redman has been left badly scarred by the burns she received when she poured a bowl of boiling soup over herself when only 18 months old.

Only her left arm was permanently affected, and years of treatment followed but she says her mother was left tormented by guilt.

Amanda's injuries motivated her to become an actress, she attributes that to building up a lot of energy during her time in hospital.

She's gone on to campaign and raise awareness about burn injuries, and present television programmes about people with scars.