Worst burn I ever got from a soldering iron was when
somebody tripped
over the mains lead. The iron was dragged through my hand and I was left
gripping the metal shaft. OUCH!.
I have also had a fair # of burns in similiar manners but the one thing I
would suggest for children is to wear glasses. When I was 9 or10 I was
desoldering something when some solder splattered into the tissue in the
corner of my eye. 1/4 inch over and it could have been serious. I almost
always now make sure I am wearing glasses.
Dan