Child Protection Investigation Specialist (CPIS) Practice Exam

What is the length of time it takes to burn an infant with 140F water?

1. One second

2. Five seconds

3. Ten seconds

4. Thirty seconds

The correct answer is: One second

The correct response regarding the length of time it takes to burn an infant with water at 140°F is one second. At this temperature, the water is significantly hotter than what is considered safe for direct contact with the skin, especially for infants, whose skin is more sensitive and thinner than that of an adult. Studies have shown that skin burns can occur very rapidly at high temperatures. Specifically, at 140°F, a burn can occur almost instantaneously when an infant’s skin comes into contact with the water. In the context of child safety, it is essential to understand that even brief exposure to such high temperatures can lead to severe scalding injuries. Therefore, it is crucial to keep water temperatures lower than this threshold to prevent serious harm to infants and young children.