Police Investigating Baby Burned in Bathtub
By: Lisa Carr
Updated: February 19, 2008
Lubbock police are investigating how a 3-month-old baby boy got third-degree burns over nearly half his body.
It happened around 3 Monday afternoon inside a home on the 3400 Block of E. Baylor St. Police say it appears the father was bathing the infant when he was burned, but it's unclear if the scalding was accidental or intentional.
Neighbors say the father was home alone with the baby and ran to their homes for help because the family does not have a phone. Experts warn babies can burn in a hot bath in just seconds. They say a child under 2 has much thinner, more sensitive skin than an adult, so what feels only warm to a mom or dad, can be extremely hot to an infant. They say a baby does not have to be submerged in hot water to get burned. Just a splash of hot water can easily scald their fragile skin. No charges have been filed in this case, but police reports describe the incident as an aggravated assault and say the suspect was released pending charges. The baby is at the Burn Center at UMC recovering. We'll of course keep you updated.
