Burns - Prevention & First Aid
Prevention and learning the correct first aid for burns just is so important for little ones. They much more fragile skin (15 times tinner than an adults in fact). Babies and toddlers have skin that burns faster and more deeply. A cup of hot tea spilt on a baby is like pouring a bucket of boiling over an adult.
Did you know - 89% of burns in little ones are caused by hot liquids, such as hot tea, coffee, and soups OR hot tap water when bathing. Even though the number of burns jumps up in the winter, burns are still a common cause of injuries, especially for little ones under 2 years old no matter the season.
Most burnS are preventable! Preventing a burn from even happening is the best thing you can do as a parent
Here are our key tips every parent should take to prevent burns:
Keep hot foods/liquids out of reach, and move them away from the edge of the countertop or table, including cords of kettles.
Avoid holding your little one when holding/drinking a hot drink.
Turn pots and handles towards the back of the stove when cooking.
Block access to the stove or ensure your little one is in a safe and secure area when cooking such as a playpen or a highchair.
When filling the bath, run the cold water first, and then for a small time at the end so the tap isn't too hot to touch.
Use your wrist to check the temp of your little one’s bath water before letting them get in.
Set the household hot water to 50° celsius degrees at the tap.
Make sure your little one is at least 1 metre away from heaters and fireplaces.
Palace a fireplace barrier around the fireplace.
Make sure all smoke alarms are working
Keep matches and lighters of reach - including candles.
Treatment of Burns at Home & When to Seek Help
A burns event can be really stressful for parents. Often your little one will be crying while you are doing burns first aid
Stop the burn
Remove the heat source
Remove clothing, BUT don't remove clothing that is stuck to the burn, instead cut around the fabric.
REMEMBER THE NAPPY, hot liquid can accumulate there and stay hot.
Cool the burn
IMMEDIATELY COOL THE BURN FOR 20 MINUTES
Use cool running water, use lukewarm water for small babies to prevent hypothermia.
If there is no water use any cool clean fluid such as a soft drink or beer.
Remember to keep the person warm while cooling the burn
For young babies use lukewarm water as cool water can cause hyperthermia
Cover the burn
Once the burn is cooled, it is important to cover the burn to prevent infection, keep the area clean, reduce pain and retain moisture.
Apply a sterile dressing that has no adhesive or loosely wrap the affected area clean piece of cling film (such as glad wrap), but discard the first few centimetres first.
Avoid touching the burn.
What not to do
DON'T PLACE ICE DIRECTLY ON A BURN
Don’t try to remove fabric that is stuck to a burn.
Don’t break blisters or remove peeled skin
Don’t apply creams, ointments, lotions, toothpaste or butter to a burn. This will have to be removed later and may cause an infection and delay healing.
Don’t put small children or babies in a cold bath or shower for a full 20 minutes. This can cause hypothermia.
When to see a doctor
There is broken skin or blistering
Burn is larger than 3cm
You feel really worried
When to call 111
call an ambulance immediately if you notice any of these signs - Stop, cool and cover the burn while you wait for an ambulance
The burn is to their face, throat or genitals
The Burns area is larger than the child's arm
They are in severe pain
GRAB OUR FREE BURNS FIRST AID QUICK GUIDE
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