What to do if your child has a burn injury

We all hear about the great danger to our kids when it comes to burns – a screaming hot kettle or saucepan full of boiling liquid. But what is not so well known is that your child is more likely to receive a burn from a hair straightener or a treadmill!

At my place, I had turned on my hair straightener and turned my attention away unaware that my 4 year old son had wandered into the room where I had the straightener on, and to this day I can still hear the shrieking cry that accompanied my son yelling, “it attacked me Mummy”.

In horror, I ran into the room, looked at his hand where instantly a blister had covered his whole thumb. I rushed to the sink, turned on the tap, somehow grabbed a chair and together we stood crying for the next 20 minutes.

Perhaps not quite the end of the world, but I knew how much that would hurt and kicked myself for not thinking about how hot and dangerous a hair straightener can actually be.

Burns, no matter what size are one of the most painful and potentially damaging injuries you can ever encounter. Not to mention it can be incredibly frightening for you and your child.

If your child has a burn injury;

INSTANTLY cool the burn with gently flowing WATER! WATER! WATER! for up to 20 minutes
If in doubt call an AMBULANCE ‘000’ – especially if the burns affects airways, genitals, face, hands or feet or is bigger than a 20c piece
For larger burns place you and your child in a gentle flowing cool shower
Remove clothing (including nappy) and jewelry ( do this once immersed in water) – but NEVER remove items if stuck to the skin, and
NEVER EVER put lotions, creams, powders, butter, ice, garlic, tomatoes, toothpaste, hummus or ice cream on any burns!!! (You would be surprised what I have been told)

Prevention is obviously key, but in the event of such emergency ‘water’ is your best friend and never hesitate to contact medical aid.

114 Comments

- - jocelynwong31 said
  - 27 Sep 2013
    10:30 pm
lol! i’m one of those who believe in toothpaste for small burn
- kjgarner replied
  
  30 Sep 2013 , 3:01 pm
  Wow I have never tried toothpaste will keep that in mind
- - tanya goulding said
  - 13 Sep 2013
    11:03 am
I have had close calls with the cup of coffee so very aware of the dangers! My daughter was looking at a motorbike, touched it and got burnt as it was still hot after it had been driven, she was screaming for ages, it is so easy to do if your not careful

- - missangela said
  - 26 Aug 2013
    3:05 pm
Wehave to make sure the 1st aid kit is up to date.

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 18 Aug 2013
    10:59 am
This was a fantastic read. Thank you.

- - jaymarie12 said
  - 17 Aug 2013
    5:00 pm
I think it is time to take myself to a first aid refresher course!
- earthlydelites replied
  
  21 Aug 2013 , 2:19 pm
  I’ve been thinking about doing that too
- - tahlia w said
  - 11 Aug 2013
    10:24 pm
I think that all mummies should take a first aid course, never know when it will come in handy

- - sallty said
  - 10 Aug 2013
    8:16 am
Thank you, this is really useful to know. Hopefully I’ll never need it.

- - danielle_morrisson said
  - 05 Aug 2013
    12:14 am
Its surprisingly how many myths are out there about treatment.

- - vicky_guillaumier said
  - 04 Aug 2013
    7:09 pm
This is common sense first aid that not only applies to kids.

- - jellybean01 said
  - 01 Aug 2013
    12:04 am
thankyou for sharing…hopefully will never have to put these steps into practise!!

- - kjgarner said
  - 31 Jul 2013
    11:50 pm
Really good to know thanks

- - kate_reid said
  - 31 Jul 2013
    8:53 pm
You have given me something to think about!

- - hexrex said
  - 31 Jul 2013
    6:07 pm
Great article, thanks for sharing

- - yyon4699 said
  - 31 Jul 2013
    4:47 pm
A few years ago my cousin was burnt by a whole kettle of boiling water…would be great if we have tips like theses handy…
- a-edwards replied
  
  02 Aug 2013 , 7:13 pm
  Oh my god that is horrible…. The burns would be horrific
- - torien said
  - 30 Jul 2013
    5:02 pm
It only takes your child being hurt for panic to set in, thanks for the tips.

- - rachkap said
  - 18 Jul 2013
    4:18 am
Thanks for the tips always useful!

- - a-edwards said
  - 17 Jul 2013
    3:42 pm
scarey thought

- - jenny9761 said
  - 14 Jul 2013
    10:50 am
Thanks for all these very important things to do.

- - earthlydelites said
  - 08 Jul 2013
    3:12 pm
water and lots of it, and if they were big I would always get them checked out at the docs, and be mindful of infection, keep the area clean as much as you can!

- - bubalubs said
  - 07 Jul 2013
    9:30 am
My youngest boy had 2nd degree burns to the side of his elbow, alittle patch under his armpit when he was little. He was watching my make pancakes and in a blink of an eye he managed to fall into the pan when trying to lean over. Luckily he fell into a cooking pancake so that saved the burn being worse than it was. We did what was mentioned above and luckily he has NO scaring what so ever.