Burns

Recent data would suggest that the NHS treat 30 children with burns every day, and 95% of these occur in the home.

Children are naturally inquisitive and will reach out and grab things, climb onto things, touch things.  Their risk of burning is higher because their skin is more delicate.

While delivering a course yesterday one of the participants told me how she had sustained a burn from hair straighteners which she said was unbearably painful and took some time to heal.

In order to reduce the risk:

• Keep hot drinks out of the way.
• If using an electrical appliance which is likely to get hot try to do this out of the way of children such as irons or hair straighteners.
• Keep pan handles turned inwards on the hob.
• Never leave children unsupervised around BBQs or fires.
• Make sure you fill the bath with cold water before hot water.
• Avoid passing hot drinks over head.

• Cool the area under running water for 20 minutes or as long as they will tolerate, this doesn’t have to be really cold, tepid water is okay.
• Remove anything such as clothing or jewellery which is around the area, but not if it is stuck to the burnt tissue.
•  Cover with cling film if you have it, or a non fluffy, sterile dressing.
• Keep the person warm.
• You could consider offering your child some calpol or paracetamol if they get burnt as it is really painful.

When a burn happens you may need to seek help.  With children the threshold for seeking help is less.

• If the burn is more than the size of the child’s hand
• If there is a burn to the hands, feet, face or groin
• If the burn looks white or charred
• If there is any difficulty in breathing.

The Child Accident Prevention Trust have some great advice and resources for further information visit their website www.capt.org.uk

Or book a first aid course with us today.