About this topic
A burn is an injury to your childs body. It is caused by: ‚
- Heat
- Chemicals
- Electricity
- Fire
- Sun or radiation
A burn can cause skin to swell, blister, or scar. Germs can easily enter damaged skin and cause infection. Treatment depends on the type of burn. ‚
There are three types of burns: ‚
- First-degree burns ¢ ˆ ’ Damage is only on the outer layer of skin. This can cause pain, redness, and swelling. The damage often heals on its own.
- Second-degree burns ¢ ˆ ’ Damage is on the outer layer of skin and the layer underneath. This can cause pain, swelling, redness, and blistering. The damage heals with treatment.
- Third-degree burns ¢ ˆ ’ Destroy the deepest layer of skin and tissues underneath. This can cause painless white, blackened, or charred skin. This burn needs to be covered with skin or a man-made graft to heal.
The common causes of burns in children are: ‚
- Scalding from steam, hot bath water, spilled coffee, hot foods, and cooking fluids.
- Fire or hot objects ¢ ˆ ’ Contact with flames or hot objects from the stove, fireplace, or countertops.
- Chemicals ¢ ˆ ’ Swallowing things like household cleaners.
- Electrical ¢ ˆ ’ Biting on electrical cords or sticking fingers or objects into electrical outlets.
- Sunburn
General
Preventing sunburns: ‚
- Put on sunscreen before going outside and apply again every 2 hours.
- Keep your child in the shade or cover your childs skin with light-weight clothing.
- Do not go outside between 10 AM and 2 PM.
- Dress your child in clothing and eyewear that protect from the sun
Preventing burns from hot liquids: ‚
- Keep hot liquids away from your child.
- Use cool-mist vaporizers instead of steam.
- Always set the water heater temperature at 120 ‚ °F (49 ‚ °C) or below.
- Do not warm baby bottles in a microwave.
Preventing burns from fire: ‚
- Keep matches, lighters, chemicals, fireworks, and lit candles away from your child.
- Make sure smoke alarms work. Put smoke alarms on every level of your home.
- Keep your child away from grills and fireplaces.
- Make sure you have working fire extinguishers.
Preventing burns from hot objects, like irons or curling irons: ‚
- Keep items in a cupboard away from your child.
- Keep the cords out of reach of your child.
- Unplug cords when items are not in use.
- Make sure you and older children are careful when using these tools.
- Use models that turn off when not in use.
Preventing burns from electrical outlets: ‚
- Place safety covers on all the electrical outlets.
- Change old or frayed cords.
- Keep electrical cords where your child cannot reach them.
Preventing burns from chemicals: ‚
- Keep items in a locked cupboard and away from your child.
- Check all toys or devices that may have batteries. Be sure your child cannot get to the battery.
- Keep cleaning products in their own bottles.
- Keep the poison control number near the phone.
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Will there be any other care needed?
- Teach your child fire safety and first aid.
- Do not smoke when you feel sleepy or after taking drugs that make you sleep.
- Teach your child to drop and roll on the floor if clothing catches fire.
- Teach your child to crawl on the floor to escape from thick smoke.
Helpful tips
Emergency treatment of burns: ‚
- For minor burns, run cold water on the skin until the pain stops.
- For deep white burns, do not do anything to the burned area. Cover it with a dry, clean cloth. Get medical help right away.
- For skin burns cause by chemicals, run fast flowing water on the area. Get medical help right away.
Get medical help right away when: ‚
- Your child has a second- or third-degree burn.
- The burn covers a large area on the body.
- The cause of the burn is fire, electrical, or chemicals.
- Your child may have swallowed chemicals.
- The burned area is on the face, scalp, hands, joints, or genitals.
- There is swelling, pus, redness, or red streaks around the wound.
If not treated, burns may get infected. ‚
Where can I learn more?
ChildSafe ‚
http://www.childsafe.org.za/burns.htm ‚
FamilyDoctor.org ‚
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/staying-healthy/first-aid/burns-preventing-burns-in-your-home.html ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/safety_burns.html# ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚