Don’t Delay! 5 Things You Need to Know About First Aid for Burns in Children

Burns are a common injury among toddlers and young children, but knowing that doesn’t make them any less scary when they happen to your child. That’s why it’s important to learn about first aid for burns in children. Quick, appropriate action can minimize pain and reduce the risk of infection, tissue damage and other complications.

We’ll guide you through the essential steps to take immediately after a burn, explain when a burn needs serious medical attention, and explore tips for preventing accidental burns in children.

While minor burns can often be treated at home, others need immediate medical attention. We encourage you to contact Emergency Services if you believe your child’s burn requires emergency medical care.

What Are the Different Types of Pediatric Burns?

Burns to children, also called pediatric burns, are a major cause of childhood injury. These burns are usually caused by heat, chemicals, electricity or cold.

Pediatric burns include:

• Thermal burns, which involve scalds from hot liquids or steam, including hot water, coffee, or bath water, or contact burns from hot objects or flames.
• Electrical burns, which involve contact with electrical currents from household outlets, power lines and other sources, or from swallowing a small battery, such as a button battery.
• Chemical burns from ingesting, inhaling or skin contact with cleaners, detergents, pool chemicals or other similar household products.
• Cold exposure burns from extended exposure to cold temperatures.
• Radiation burns from prolonged exposure to radiation, including the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays or X-rays.

The most common type of pediatric burn is a scald burn.

What Should I Do Immediately After My Child Has Been Burned? First Aid for Burns in Children

What you should do after your child has been burned depends on how severe the burn is. We’ll cover burn degree classifications later in this article.

For now, here are some immediate steps you can take to treat the burn:

1. Soak any smoldering clothing with water immediately, then remove it from burned areas unless it is stuck to the skin. If clothing is stuck to the skin, cut it away as much as possible.
2. Begin running cool (not cold) water over the burn as quickly as possible. Do this until the pain eases, but not for longer than 5 minutes. Do not put ice on a burn.
3. If the burn is not oozing, cover it with a sterile gauze bandage or a clean, dry cloth or towel. Covering the burn will help reduce pain and decrease the risk of infection.
4. If your child is awake and alert, you may want to offer an over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Be sure to follow the guidelines on the package for proper dosage based on your child’s age.
5. Do not break any blisters that have formed, as this can increase the risk of infection.
6. If the burn is oozing, cover it with a sterile gauze bandage and seek immediate medical attention, as this could be an indication of infection or other complications.

What Are the Signs That a Burn Needs Serious Medical Attention?

Minor burns can often be treated at home, but other times professional medical care is necessary. 

Signs a burn needs serious medical attention include a burn that:

• Is on the face, head, hands, feet or genitals
• Is the result of a fire, electrical current or chemical
• Appears white, waxy, leathery, brown or charred
• Covers a large area of the body
• Is a third-degree burn
• Involves a joint
• Causes blisters

Signs of shock and difficulty breathing also require emergency care.

We always recommend erring on the side of caution and seeking medical attention if you’re unsure about the severity of the burn.

What Are the Different Burn Degrees and How Are Each Treated?

Burns are classified based on the depth of tissue damage and according to size and location on the body. Deeper burns, larger burns and those on the face, hands or groin require immediate medical attention.

• First-degree burns. A first-degree burn affects only the outermost or top layer of skin, known as the epidermis. The skin becomes red and dry but doesn’t blister. A first-degree burn is slightly painful, like a sunburn.
• Second-degree burns. A second-degree burn is when the outer layer of skin and some part of the dermis, or layer of skin beneath, is damaged. The burn site will be red, painful and develop blisters.
• Third-degree burns. A third-degree burn affects both the epidermis and dermis, the top two layers of skin, and may extend into deeper tissues such as fat, muscle, tendons and bone. The skin will appear white, charred or leathery and may lack sensation due to damaged nerve endings.

Treatment

First-degree burns:

• Run cool, not cold, water over the burn for a few minutes, or apply a cool, wet compress if water is not available.
• Ask your pediatrician about applying a thin layer of non-irritating, fragrance-free moisturizer like aloe vera or petroleum jelly to prevent dryness.
• Cover the burn loosely with a sterile gauze bandage or a clean, dry cloth.
• Use over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen following the guidelines for proper dosage based on your child’s age.
• Protect the area from further damage.
• Seek medical attention if the burn area is large or on the face, hands, feet, or groin. 

Second-degree burns:

• Follow the same steps as those for a first-degree burn.
• Get medical attention for large burns, or those on the face, hands, feet, groin or over a major joint.
• Your child may require a doctor’s care for specialized dressings to prevent infection and help with healing.

Third-degree burns:

• Seek immediate emergency medical care. If left untreated, third-degree burns can lead to shock, infection or other serious complications.
• Treatment may include wound cleaning and dead tissue removal followed by skin grafting to close the wound.

If you have concerns about your child’s burn, even if it doesn’t exhibit the signs above, consult your pediatrician or seek emergency care.

How Can You Prevent Accidental Child Burns in the Future?

Toddlers and young children love to explore, so it’s not always easy to prevent injuries. Here are some things you can do to minimize the risk of childhood burns:

• Keep a fire extinguisher within easy reach in your home, preferably in more than one location.
• Avoid letting children play in the kitchen, or keep them at least 3 feet away from appliances.
• Turn handles on pots and pans toward the back of the stove when cooking to prevent children from grabbing them.
• Store flammable liquids, cleaners, detergents, pool chemicals and other similar household products out of children’s reach.
• Limit your child’s exposure to the sun, especially in the middle of the day when UV rays are at their strongest.
• Keep children away from clothes irons, space heaters, curling irons and other heated appliances, and unplug and store these items when not in use.
• To reduce the risk of burns from hot water scalds, set your hot water heater to 120°F (49°C) or lower.
• Test bathwater to make sure it’s not too hot before putting children in the bath.
• Place candles, lighters and matches out of children’s reach.
• Don’t let children near hot drinks.

Expert Pediatric Care at Conway Medical Center

Our team of experienced healthcare providers understand that burns in children can be frightening. We provide the utmost in compassionate care to babies, children and teens for a variety of medical conditions to ensure the best possible outcomes.

If you have concerns about your child’s minor burn, we encourage you to reach out to CMC Pediatrics. If you believe your child’s burn is serious and needs immediate medical attention, please contact Emergency Services. Prompt care can prevent complications, help your child recover quickly and give you peace of mind.