What To Do When Your Child Has Suffered A Burn

As a parent, you do your best to keep your child safe. However, you can only do so much to combat your child’s general curiosity about the world. That is to say, accidents happen. You forgot to put sunscreen on your child’s shoulders, your child snuck into the kitchen when you weren’t looking, or their tiny fingers made their way into an electric socket.

You may not be able to protect your child from every burn, but you can certainly treat them once they happen. There are three different types of burns you need to be aware of:

• First-degree burns, which are minor and result in reddened skin
• Second-degree burns, which cause severe skin blistering and require medical attention
• Third-degree burns, which results in white, yellow, or red charred skin where the burn was received. These types of burns require immediate medical attention.

What to do if your child has been burned

The very first thing you need to do to treat your child’s burn is to remove the source of the burn. For instance, if your child placed their hand on the stove, remove the child from the stove. Proceed by placing the burn under cool (not cold) water in order to relieve the child’s pain. After 10 to 15 minutes under the water, cover the burned area with a clean bandage and seek medical attention at an urgent care for kids if necessary.

Because burns are likely to change in appearance, it can be challenging to determine how bad the burn is for the first two days. However, should blistering develop around the area, seek help at an urgent care for kids. Urgent care centers may be more helpful depending on the time of day because unlike pediatricians, up to 85% of urgent care clinics are open seven days a week.

How can I help heal my child’s burn?

A burn that isn’t serious can be treated with lotion or moisturizer. Begin by using non-perfumed lotion on the area for up to four times a day. This will help the area keep from itching, which can cause your child to open the wound.

Should your child’s burn be more serious, an urgent care for kids may recommend a casting. A cast will protect your child’s injury from the outside air and reduces the number of times throughout the day you may have to change their dressings.

A parent can only do so much to protect their child from potential dangers. Accidents happen. Remain calm and make your child as comfortable as possible. If your child’s burn is serious, consult a medical professional.