What is a burn?
Most burns are scalds from hot water or drinks. A few are from
hot grease, heating grates, and cigarettes.
There are three degrees of burns:
- A first-degree burn is reddened skin without blisters. It
does not leave a scar.
- A second-degree burn has blisters. It also does not leave
a scar. Second-degree burns take up to 3 weeks to heal.
- A third-degree burn is deep and leaves areas of charred
skin. During healing it usually needs a skin graft to prevent bad scarring.
How can I take care of my
child?
- First Aid: Immediately
(don't take time to remove clothing) put the burned part in cold tap water
or pour cold tap water over it for 10 minutes. If you are outside, the
nearest garden hose should be used. This will lessen the depth of the burn
and relieve pain. If the burned area is large, cover it loosely with a clean
sheet. You can also use plastic wrap. The covering will keep the burn clean
and reduce the pain.
- Home Care: Wash the area
gently with warm water once a day. Avoid soap unless the burn is dirty.
(Soaps can slow healing). Don't open any blisters--the outer skin protects
the burn from infection. If the burn is second degree, the blister is
broken, and the skin is gone, put an antibiotic ointment on it and cover it
with a Band-Aid or sterile gauze dressing. Change the dressing every other
day. Use warm water and 1 or 2 gentle wipes with a wet washcloth to remove
any dirt or debris on the surface and reapply ointment. Do not put any
butter or burn ointments on the burn.
For pain put cold wet cloths on the burned area and give
acetaminophen every 4 hours or ibuprofen every 6 hours for at least 24
hours.
Note: Once the blisters break open, the dead skin needs to
be wiped off with a wet washcloth or trimmed off with fine scissors.
Otherwise, the hidden pockets become an ideal breeding ground for
infections.
- Prevention: Think about
how you can prevent similar accidents in the future. Also, install a smoke
detector.
When should I call my child's
health care provider?
Call IMMEDIATELY if:
- A blister is larger than 2 inches across.
- The burn is on the face, hands, feet, or genitals.
- It was an electrical burn.
Call during office hours if:
- It starts to look infected.
- It isn't healed within 10 days.
- You feel your child is getting worse.
- You have other questions or concerns.
