Comment from G Kaatz

I agree with Carol Pollack-Nelson PhD, that there should be some sort of barrier that helps prevent young children from receiving severe burns. It seems as if company’s do put warning out there stating that the glass will get hot and children need to be supervised but the warning tag is about this is on the fireplace itself, hidden under the fireplace and behind an access door. This is totally unacceptable and should immediately be remedied. There should be multiple warning labels on the fireplace and somewhere on the glass door. Also a protective screen should come standard with a fireplace to help protect the consumer, their family and the company that built the fireplace. Pollack-Nelson PhD, cited numerous instances of children being burned after touching the glass door of a vented fireplace. Many of these children had touched the door after the parents had turned off the fireplace and many minutes had passed allowing the glass to cool. Imagine if a child touched the glass while the fireplace was still lit. I think that there should be a standard barrier that is required to have in front of your fireplace to help protect everyone involved. Also there needs to be more consumer education on the product prior to them purchasing a fireplace. As a father the responsibility to protect my family fall clearly on my shoulders and the blame is not all on the company that built the fireplace. Parents should definitely educate themselves on the proper uses of the fireplace and what accessories are available to them to help protect their children from being burned. I recommend that the warning be placed somewhere where the consumer sees it and that they sign a statement from wherever they purchased the fireplace that they have been given a copy of the warning and that they have read it and understand the dangers that a fireplace could have.