What should you do to protect a person from burns during a hot soak?

Measuring water temperature is essential to protect a person from burns during a hot soak. This step ensures that the water is at a safe and comfortable temperature before immersion. Health professionals and caregivers understand that water that is too hot can cause serious burns or scalds, especially in vulnerable populations such as the elderly or those with sensitive skin.

By measuring the temperature accurately, you can confirm that it falls within a safe range, typically between 98.6°F (37°C) to 104°F (40°C). This practice minimizes the risk of injury and enhances patient comfort during the soak.

Other options, while they may seem helpful, do not directly address the critical aspect of ensuring safety through temperature assessment. Covering the soak may provide some insulation, but it does not prevent burns unless the temperature is confirmed to be safe. Setting the temperature with a key could imply a mechanism to control heat, but without accurate measurement, it might not guarantee safety. Using warm water alone might not be adequate, as "warm" is subjective without a set temperature range to reference. Therefore, measuring water temperature stands out as the most effective and necessary precaution in this context.