Babies and young children are especially susceptible — they're curious, small, and have sensitive skin

that needs extra protection. Although some minor burns aren't cause for concern and can be safely treated

at home, other more serious burns require medical care. But taking some simple precautions to make

your home safer can prevent many burns.



​Common Causes​:
 

The first step in helping to prevent kids from being burned is to understand these common causes of burns: 



• scalds, the No. 1 culprit (from steam, hot bath water, tipped-over coffee cups, hot foods, cooking fluids, etc.) 
• contact with flames or hot objects (from the stove, fireplace, curling iron, etc.)
• chemical burns (from swallowing things, like drain cleaner or watch batteries, or spilling chemicals, such as bleach, onto the skin)
• electrical burns (from biting on electrical cords or sticking fingers or objects in electrical outlets, etc.)
• overexposure to the sun



​Types of Burns​:
 

Burns are often categorized as first-, second-, or third-degree, depending on how badly the skin is damaged.

Each of the injuries above can cause any of these three types of burns. But both the type of burn and its cause

will determine how the burn is treated. All burns should be treated quickly to reduce the temperature of the burned

area and reduce damage to the skin and underlying tissue (if the burn is severe).

​



​What to Do:


Seek medical help immediately when:

​

• You think your child has a second- or third-degree burn.
• The burned area is large (2-3 inches in diameter), even if it seems like a minor burn. For any burn that appears to cover more than 10% of the body, call for medical assistance. And don't use wet compresses or ice because they can cause the child's body temperature to drop. Instead, cover the area with a clean, soft cloth or towel.
• The burn comes from a fire, an electrical wire or socket, or chemicals.
• The burn is on the face, scalp, hands, joint surfaces, or genitals.
• The burn looks infected (with swelling, pus, increasing redness, or red streaking of the skin near the wound).

​

​For First-Degree Burns:​


 

• Remove the child from the heat source.
• Remove clothing from the burned area immediately.
• Run cool (not cold) water over the burned area (if water isn't available, any cold, drinkable fluid can be used) or hold a clean, cold compress on the burn for approximately 3-5 minutes (do not use ice, as it may cause more destruction to the injured skin).
• Do not apply butter, grease, powder, or any other remedies to the burn, as these can make the burn deeper and increase the risk of infection.
• Apply aloe gel or cream to the affected area. This may be done a few times during the day.
• Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. Refer to the dosing guidelines on the label according to your child's age or weight.
• If the area affected is small (the size of a quarter or smaller), keep it clean. You can protect it with a sterile gauze pad or bandage for the next 24 hours (but do not use adhesive bandages on very young kids, as these can be a choking hazard).

​

For Second- and Third-Degree Burns:
 

 

• Seek emergency medical care, then follow these steps until medical personnel arrive:
• Keep your child lying down with the burned area elevated.
• Follow the instructions for first-degree burns.
• Remove all jewelry and clothing from around the burn (in case there's any swelling after the injury), except for clothing that's stuck to the skin. If you're having difficulty removing clothing, you may need to cut it off or wait until medical assistance arrives.
• Do not break any blisters.
• Apply cool water over the area for at least 3-5 minutes, then cover the area with a clean dry cloth or sheet until help arrives.



For more information on how to treat child burns, please contact us direct. We are here to help!