Last week we spoke about Types of Burns, which was the first part of the First Aid For Burns Series. In this post, we have tried to put together important points on how to treat and the precautions for burns in children.
Degrees of Burns
Another very important aspect to look out for, is the depth of the burn. We all know that our skin is made of different layers. Therefore, burns have been categorized based on the number of layers affected. Some signs and symptoms associated with each are:
First Degree Burn
(Effecting only the top layer of the skin)
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Second Degree Burn
(More serious burn, going deeper than the top layer of the skin) |
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Third Degree Burn
(Extending beyond the skin, many times reaching vital organs or bones) |
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Treatment
First Degree Burns –
- Cool the area with running water for a minimum of 10 minutes.
- Remove any constricting jewelry or piece of clothing.
- Apply an antibiotic ointment.
- Speak to your doctor.
DO NOT
- Apply ice.
- Rub the area with butter, dip it in ice cold water or apply flour.
- Please DO NOT try any other home remedy as most of them are not medically proven to work. In fact, unknowingly you run a chance of making things worse for your child.
- Administer any medication without consulting the doctor
Second Degree Burns –
All the do’s and don’ts of First Degree Burns, including the following:
- Apply an antibiotic ointment if possible.
- Arrange for a trip to the doctor’s office. If the affected area is large, or the child is in severe pain, look at the possibility of calling urgent medical help at home.
DO NOT
- Burst the blisters.
Third Degree Burns –
- Call your emergency services immediately
- While waiting for medical assistance, try to raise the injury above the heart. Don’t get the child undressed, but make sure no clothing is stuck to the wound.
Precautions
Prevention is definitely better than cure. So here is a list of things we can do to make our homes a safer place for our children.
The list is not completely exhaustive, and each parent will need to evaluate their own environment to assess how to make their houses more baby friendly.
- Keep children out of the kitchen while cooking.
- Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove.
- Place a fire extinguisher near the kitchen.
- Test smoke detectors once a month.
- Replace smoke detectors every 10 years.
- Keep water heater temperature under 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Measure bath water temperature before use.
- Lock up matches and lighters.
- Install electrical outlet covers.
- Check and discard electrical cords with exposed wires.
- Keep chemicals out of reach, and wear gloves during chemical use.
- Wear sunscreen every day, and avoid peak sunlight.
- Ensure all smoking products are stubbed out completely.
- Keep hair dryers, straighteners, irons out of reach at all times.
- It is also a good idea to keep a fire evacuation plan ready, especially if you live in high rise buildings/apartment.
That’s all we have for today. We hope you found this post useful. Do share it with other parents who might not know a lot about First Aid for Burns in children. Here’s wishing that you and your children are always safe 🙂
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