I N- SERVI CE TRAI NI NG

FOOD SERVI CE SYSTEMS

MANAGEMENT PRACTI CUM
ANNA I PSEN
Serving Hot Beverages
Purpose
Provide guidelines related to consumption of hot
liquids to residents.
To ensure the status and safety of residents eating or
drinking hot liquids.
To balance providing a home like environment and a
residents quality of life.
To ensure fluid level of hot beverages is not above
2/3 full.
To ensure staff provide hot beverages from approved
prefilled, pre-temped beverage dispensers.
Can Hot Beverages and Food Cause
Burns?
Temperature of Liquid
(Fahrenheit)
Time Required for a Third-Degree
Burn to Occur
155 degrees 1 second
148 degrees 2 seconds
140 degrees 5 seconds
133 degrees 15 seconds
127 degrees 1 minutes
124 degrees 3 minutes
120 degrees 5 minutes
100 degrees Safe temperature
Why is this important?
Residents have conditions that put them at increased
risk for burns caused by scalding.
The Eddy Heritage House provides hot liquids for
consumption that contribute to an individuals
perception of life.

***Staff must pay attention to temperature of
liquids prior to serving***
What Common Hot Liquids Are Served?
Coffee
Tea
Hot Chocolate
Water
Soups


At What Temperature Should Hot Liquids
Be Served?
The temperature at which hot beverages should be
served is not clearly defined.
Palatability - having a pleasant or agreeable taste.
temperature affects palatability, and varies from
person to person based on personal preference. For
example, to some coffee at 120 degrees Fahrenheit
may taste hot, while others may prefer coffee at 160
degree Fahrenheit or above.

General Guidelines
Do not leave pots or urns of hot coffee or other hot
beverages unattended. Use toggle covers on urns to
reduce risk of accidental dispensing.
Limit access of residents to locations where hot
beverages may be prepared or re-heated such as the
employee break room, kitchen and nourishment kitchen.
Discourage residents from carrying cups of hot beverages
without a lid while they are walking or moving in a
wheelchair.
Discourage visitors from re-heating hot beverages in the
microwave.

Serving Hot Liquids
Identify residents who may be at greater risk of
spilling hot beverages on themselves, which may
include but are not limited to:
Resident with tremors.
Resident with poor hand control from CVA, arthritis,
weakness, etc.
Resident that is not seated and is walking with the hot
beverage, even a few feet.
Resident in a wheelchair that will be traveling with
the hot beverage, even a few feet.

Serving Hot Liquids
Dont overfill drinking cups (2/3 full).
Place beverage away from the edge of the table and near
residents dominant hand.
Explain to the resident that a hot liquid is being served
and place in the residents field of vision.
Transfer hot beverage from original container to
container which may cause the temperature to drop, such
as a ceramic mug.
Hot beverages cool faster when uncovered.
Add ice to got liquid before serving, if resident approves.

When Spills Occur
Cool the area as quickly as possible by flushing with
cold water.
If possible, remove clothing in contact with
substance carefully and quickly, while maintaining
privacy.
Observe the area, cover with dry sterile dressing.
Provide treatment ordered by physician.
Follow facility procedure of incident.

Policy Changes
Staff will fill the beverage cup 2/3 full of hot
beverages to minimize the opportunity for spillage.
Dining services will audit test trays, including
beverages, for temperature and proper hot beverage
levels daily for one week; five times a week for three
weeks, and at least twice weekly thereafter or
depending on the recommendations of the QA
committee.
Resources

Accidental Hot Liquid Spills, The Consultant
Dietitian

Serving Hot Beverages, Centura Health

Accidental Hot Liquid Spills, Lynda Gluch, RD, LD
Sharon Emley, MS, RD, LD