Fife Council has issued a safety alert to schools after an exploding camping kettle landed a youngster in intensive care.
Three children were treated for burns after a camping kettle exploded during an outdoor class at an after school club in June last year.
The pupils aged 11 and 12 were heating water during a supervised outdoor activity in a wooded area behind Lumphinnans Primary School, Cowdenbeath.
Pressure built up in the kettle and boiling water was sprayed over the children.
Two of the youngsters were taken to Victoria Hospital, in Kirkcaldy, and treated for scalding to their faces and bodies.
One of them had to be treated in intensive care after the burns became infected. He spent more than a week in hospital.
A third child suffered burns on his back and was taken to the Sick Children’s Hospital in Edinburgh.
Fife Council service manager Neil Finnie said: “Following last year’s incident a full health and safety investigation was carried out.
“It was found that a gap in training and formal risk assessment resulted in the misuse of the kelly kettle.
“Since then we have taken steps to make sure that any staff working with a kelly kettle must have had training in its use and that the proper risk assessment has been carried out.
“A safety alert and updated instructions have also been sent to all schools.”
The children were among a group of 10 who were taking part in an outdoor cooking class being run by the school after lessons.
