Burn Prevention In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Burn injuries occur when skin is damaged after being exposed to too much heat. Burn injuries are very common among children. Burns are very painful. Large burns are even more painful, and very hard for children to cope with. Children who are burned may need to stay in the hospital for a long time. They may need several months or longer in rehabilitation, which can be very painful. A burn can have long lasting effects on a child. A child who has been burned may never be able to do the same things that other children do. A child may look different from others after having been burned. These factors can change a child's thoughts, feelings, and the way he acts. If a child is badly burned, there is a chance that he will not live. Learn what you can do to prevent burn injuries and make your home safer.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Keep a list of your child's medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines your child takes, the amounts, and when and why they are taken. Bring the list of your child's medicines or the medicine bottles when you visit your child's caregivers. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about the medicines. Do not give any medicines to your child without first asking your child's caregiver. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements.
  
  
• Give your child's medicine as directed: Always give your child's medicine as directed by his caregivers. Call your child's caregiver if you think your child's medicines are not helping. Call if you feel your child is having side effects. Do not quit giving the medicines to your child until you discuss it with your child's caregiver.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give medicine to decrease your child's pain. Tell a caregiver if your child's pain does not go away or comes back after taking this medicine. Pain medicine can have side effects. Tell a caregiver if your child has trouble breathing, is very sleepy, or has an upset stomach. Tell a caregiver if your child is allergic to any medicine.

Ask your child's caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you and your child may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your child's next visit.

Causes of burn injuries: Touching hot objects such as an iron, a skillet (pan), cigarettes, flames or fireworks are the most common causes of burns. Children (often boys) get burned after making fires from playing with matches or lighters. Contact burns often happen when children reach for objects without knowing that they are hot. These burns usually occur on your child's hands, arms, and face. The following may also cause burn injuries:

• Harsh chemicals, such as cleaning products, chlorine, car battery acid, or fires from ignited (lit) gasoline.
  
  
• Lightning, or touching electrical outlets, or worn cords or wires.
  
  
• Steam, hot food, grease spills, boiling water, or other hot liquids.
  
  
• Being out in the sun too long.

Preventing burn injuries: Keeping your child safe from burns is a very important part of being a parent. Education is the best way to prevent burns. The more you know about preventing burns, the better you will be able to help yourself and your child. Meet with other people who are active with teaching and sharing information on burn prevention.

Preventing contact burns:

• Do not eat, drink, or carry anything hot near your baby, or while you hold him.
  
  
• Do not heat your baby's bottle in the microwave oven. Always test the temperature of the liquid before you give it to your baby to hold or drink.
  
  
• Keep irons, curling irons and other hot devices in an area away from where children can get to them.
  
  
• Use protective screens or child safety guards around fireplaces, ovens, space heaters, and radiators.

Preventing burns caused by hot liquids or steam:

• Check the water temperature before putting your child into the bathtub. Do not let your child touch the faucet handles in the bathtub. He could turn on the hot water and burn himself. Never leave your child alone in the bathtub.
  
  
• Do not leave cups, mugs, or bowls that have hot liquids in them at the edge of a table. Turn pot handles away from the front of the stove. Children can reach up and pull cups or pots of hot liquids down onto themselves.
  
  
• Use testing cards or anti-scald devices to check the temperature of water coming from your faucets. Decrease your hot water heater setting to low or medium (90 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit).
  
  
• Keep your children out of the kitchen when you are cooking. Kitchen spills can splatter or fall on your child and cause serious burns. Keep your child away from an open oven door. Put younger children in a playpen, high chair, or crib while you are cooking.

Preventing sunburns:

• Put sunscreen lotion on your child's skin before he goes outside. Do not wait for your child's skin to turn red before applying sunscreen lotion.
  
  
• Set time limits when allowing your child to stay out in the sun.

Protecting a child from burns:

• Do not leave lit cigarettes alone. Keep cigarette lighters and matches in a safe place where children cannot reach them. Teach your child that these things are not toys.
  
  
• Do not let your child play with firecrackers or sparklers. These can cause serious injuries or burns.
  
  
• Keep your child away from electrical cords. Cover unused electrical outlets with childproof covers, and replace torn or worn cords.
  
  
• Have your child wear pajamas made of flame-resistant fabric. Do not let him wear clothing with fuzzy or napped surfaces, or clothing that is loosely-woven, or loose-fitting. Most costumes worn at Halloween can catch fire easily since they have loose, flowing material. Choose clothing for your child that fits snugly next to his skin.
  
  
• Teach your child how to stop, drop, and roll. Children will often run if their clothes are on fire. This can make the fire spread. Teach your child how to stop, drop to the ground and roll around if his clothing catches on fire. Doing this helps protect his face from flames, and will help the fire go out.

Preventing fires at home:

• Have a working fire extinguisher in your home. Teach family members how and when to use it.
  
  
• Lock up liquids that may catch on fire, like gasoline or kerosene. Leave them in the container that they came in and label them.
  
  
• Plan how to quickly get out of each room of your house if there is a fire. Teach your children how to get out and where to go. Have practice fire drills.
  
  
• Use smoke detectors in the house and check them regularly to make sure they are working. Replace the batteries twice a year to make sure that these devices are working correctly.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• Your child has a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your child's burn, treatment, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• Your child has any of the following:
  
  
  • Sudden trouble breathing.
    
    
  • A fast heartbeat and chest pain.
    
    
  • Dizziness and trouble standing up.
    
    
  • Blue lips or fingernails.
    
    
  • He is weak, and has pale and moist, clammy skin.
  
  
• Your child has more redness, numbness, or swelling in the burned area.
  
  
• Your child's pain is not better, or is getting worse even after taking medicine.
  
  
• Your child's wound has pus coming from it, or has a bad smell, even if you are following caregiver's orders for wound care and dressing changes.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page