Massachusetts Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

The dangers of fireplaces for children

Massachusetts attorney Thomas M. Kiley concentrates on legal issues regarding defective products.  A recent article in the Washington Post illustrates the dangers of fireplaces for children.

According to the article, several children have been seriously burned by touching the glass on artificial gas fireplaces.  Children's Hospital typically sees 60 burns per week, but this past winter those numbers increased significantly.  Between January 1 and February 24, the hospital admitted nine cases of serious fireplace burns; normally only 2 or 3 would have to be admitted.  Most parents don't realize how hot the glass fronts of the fireplaces can become, even when the fire is turned on low.  They assume the glass is like an oven door and will not get hot.