SCALDING INJURIES FROM HOT BATH WATER

Early day motion 1938, tabled 29 March 2006 by Mary Creagh (Labour). Signed by 111 members.

That this House notes that every day a child under five years is admitted to hospital with serious injuries resulting from scalding hot bath water, that scalding hot bath water kills 20 people a year, three-quarters of whom are pensioners and that scalding disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in society; therefore welcomes the introduction with cross-party support of the Prevention of Scalding Injuries (Bathing in the Home) Bill by the hon. Member for Wakefield; further notes that this Bill is supported through the Hot Water Burns Like Fire campaign by Age Concern, the British Burns Association, the Child Accident Prevention Trust, the Children's Fire and Burn Trust, Help the Aged and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents; and further notes that this Bill would require a change to the building regulations so that thermostatic mixing valves are installed as standard to regulate the temperature of bath water to a maximum of 48 degrees centigrade, that this temperature would protect those most vulnerable in society but enable everyone to continue to enjoy safe hot baths and that the Scottish Parliament has implemented new regulations to this effect which come into force in May.

Signatures by party: Labour 77, Liberal Democrat 15, Conservative 9, DUP 6, Scottish National Party 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2.