Burns
burn; burns; fire; smoke; safety; injury; cigarette; smoking; first; aid; emergency; chemical; camp ;
Contents
Emergency aid for burns
- Put out the flames ('stop', 'drop' 'roll') or cover the flames.
OR
Brush off the chemicals (do not use your bare hands to do this), then wash off the chemicals
- Call for urgent emergency help if the person has any difficultly breathing, or if the burn is large. (000 in Australia).
- Cool the burnt area for at least 20 minutes under cold running TAP water (never use ice or ice cold water).
- Cover the burn with cling wrap or a burns dressing.
- Do not put any creams or other treatments on the burns until they have been seen by a doctor.
- Burns can become infected easily, and they can leave bad scarring, so unless the burn is very small, take the child to a doctor.
Too many children suffer burns, and burns can usually be prevented.
Adults need to keep children safe.
- You cannot rely on teaching very young children to stay away from fire or not to touch hot things - however well you teach them, there is a risk that they will try it when you are not there.
- With very young children you need to make sure that your home is as safe as possible for them.
- As they grow older they are more able to learn what it is not safe to do.
There is another topic on this site called Scalds - about burns caused by hot liquids such as boiling water or hot drinks.
Flame burns
Put out the flames by rolling the child on the ground and/or covering with a non-flammable blanket or coat. If it is an older child, tell her to "stop, drop and roll" on the floor or ground (this is what they have been taught at school).
- Flame burns and smoke can burn the child's airways and lungs as well as the skin.
- The child may be breathing normally at first, but breathing can become worse even after the child is away from the fire and smoke.
If the child's breathing is affected in any way (cough, wheeze, shortness of breath) - seek help urgently - call an ambulance.
Chemical burns
Brush off any remaining chemicals (not with bare hands), then wash the whole area with large amounts of cold water.
Cool the burnt area
Cool the burnt area for at least 20 minutes under cold, running, tap water. Keep going if the burnt area still hurts when it is taken out of the water.
- If the child is very distressed you may have to take her into the shower at the beginning, so that you can hold her to comfort her.
- Remove all clothing (except if it is stuck to the burnt area), watches, bracelets, rings, etc as a burnt area can swell quickly.
- Continue running cold water on the burn, but keep the rest of the child's body warm.
- Take off wet clothing, cover unburnt areas with a dry blanket, towel or other clothing.
- Continue cooling the burnt skin while taking the child to hospital or a doctor, using a spray bottle of cold water or wet cold dressings. You will need to change the dressings often as they will heat up quickly.
- Never use ice or ice cold water. Ice and very cold water can harm skin too.
- Restart use of cold running water when you get to hospital or doctor's rooms.
- Do not put any creams or other treatments onto the burn.
- Cooling a burn under cold running water can still be of value even if it is not started until up to 3 hours after the burn happened, but the sooner treatment is started, the better.
Deep burns can cause permanent scarring and in severe burns death may occur. Except in the case of a very minor burn, take your child to the nearest hospital or doctor for treatment after taking First Aid action.
First aid for small burns
Hold the burnt area of skin under cold running tap water for at least 20 minutes.
- If it begins to hurt badly after it is taken out of cold water, put it back into the cold water for longer.
- If the burn is small (under about a large coin size) it could be covered with a sterile, non-stick dressing (burns dressings can be bought at a pharmacy).
- If the burnt area is larger, it would be wise to see a doctor.
For First Aid for sunburn, see the section 'Treating sunburn' in the topic 'Sun protection'
Preventing burns
Parents need to keep children safe. Just teaching them about staying safe is not enough.
- Always model safe behaviour around fires in front of children.
Install smoke alarms in your home and ensure they remain in working order by checking them often. Work out with your children what to do if the alarm goes off.
- Take great care when drinking a hot drink near children - keep cups away from the edge of the table or bench top - curious children will often reach for things. The best practice is never to hold or drink a hot cup of tea or coffee while holding a baby. Scalds from hot drinks are the most common cause of burns in young children.
- Work out a fire safety plan for your home. Practise getting out of a room or the house on a regular basis. Have a planned meeting place outside so you can check that everyone has got out.
- Lower the temperature of hot water taps and showers in bathrooms to 50oC. In Australia this is a legal requirement for all homes built since 1995. If your home was built before then contact a plumber for advice. If you can afford to, install mixer taps in the bathroom that blend hot and cold water, so only warm water comes out.
Never leave a young child without supervision around any type of unprotected heating appliance.
Never leave a young child in the bathroom without an adult.
- Place guards around fires or heaters (many babies can roll over well before they are 6 months old, and they can move a long way).
- Consider having a fire blanket or fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Check regularly to ensure that you can get them easily and they are in working order.
- Always make sure that cords attached to appliances (eg kettles) containing hot water, hot food or other hot liquids are out of reach of children.
- Turn saucepan/pot handles on the stove inwards and/or use a stove guard.
- Use table mats rather than table clothes when hot drinks and food or heavy objects are on a table.
- Keep cigarette lighters, matches and candles out of reach of children. Many babies and children have been injured by burns from cigarettes and cigarette ash. A lighted cigarette can cause serious eye injuries.
Store chemicals well out of reach of children (in a locked cupboard is best).
- Always protect children from sunburn by wearing a hat, clothing covering most of their body, and sun-block while playing outside on a warm day. They should not spend much time outdoors if the weather is hot.
- Dress children in clothes made with fire protected material - make sure night-wear meets Australian Standards (check the label).
- Put out campfires with water, not sand or dirt. Water cools a campfire much more quickly. Sand or dirt over a campfire may be so hot even 8 hours after it is put out that it can cause severe burns. Have a look at the topic 'Learn or burn - campfire safety'.
- Teach toddlers about the dangers of hot liquids, hot objects, fire and flames, so that they will eventually know what to do.
- Teach older children to avoid other dangers such as matches, candles, bonfires, fireworks, chemicals, explosives and flammable materials.
But remember - no matter how well you teach them, it is up to adults to make sure that children are safe.
Resources
South Australia
- South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service - General enquiries 8204 3600
Home Fire Safety Information - Domestic -Fact Sheets
http://www.samfs.sa.gov.au/community/domestic.asp
- Kidsafe (08) 8161 6318 - for information, pamphlets, books, resources, examples of safety products.
- Master Plumbers Association 1800 133 871 - for information about regulating hot water temperature.
Relevant Australian Standards
- AS 1249-1990: Children's nightclothes having reduced fire hazard.
- AS 2285: Space Heating appliances - External temperature limits & primary guards.
- AS2286: Space Heating appliances - Secondary guards.
- AS 3500.4 -1994: National Plumbing and Drainage Code - Hot water supply systems.
The 'Consumers Online' web site has consumer information from the Commonwealth Government:
http://www.consumersonline.gov.au/
Injury Prevention Information
Kidsafe (Australian Child Accident Prevention Foundation ) (Check "Hot water burns like fire campaign")
http://www.kidsafe.com.au
Research Centre for Injury Studies, Flinders University, South Australia
http://www.nisu.flinders.edu.au
Monash University Accident Research Centre
http://www.general.monash.edu.au/muarc/index.htm
Injury Prevention Journal
http://ip.bmjjournals.com
References
Harrison J, Steel D, 'Burns and scalds' AIHW National Injury Surveillance Unit, October 2006 http://www.nisu.flinders.edu.au/pubs/reports/2006/injcat92.pdf
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).
This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your
child's sex.