The most common cause of burns in children is scalds from hot liquids or steam, according to KidsHealth. Burns can be mild and treatable at home, or life-threatening, requiring emergency medical care. First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin and cause redness, pain and minor swelling. Second-degree burns are pink or red, swollen, painful and may form fluid-filled blisters. The most serious and potentially life-threatening are third-degree burns which involve the underlying tissue and a larger area of the body; signs include dry, waxy, leathery, brown or black charred skin. Minor burns may heal in several days, but third-degree burns may need a skin graft to heal.
Step 1
Assess damage on the skin. Call 911 immediately if the burn is more than 3 inches in diameter, even if the damage seems minor. Also call 911 if the burn is on the face, scalp, hands, major joints or genitals, or if there is difficulty breathing or the throat or airway is burned.
Step 2
Remove clothing from the burned areas immediately. For second-degree burns, do not remove clothing that is struck to the skin.
Step 3
Run room-temperature water over the burned area for 15 to 30 minutes, or hold a clean, cold compress on the burn for approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 4
Apply aloe gel or anesthetic cream to the affected area several times during the day.
Step 5
Give over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen as needed.
Step 6
Loosely cover the burned area with a sterile gauze pad or bandage for the next 24 hours to protect it from infection.
Things You'll Need
- Cold compress
- Aloe gel or anesthetic cream
- Over-the-counter pain reliever
- Sterile gauze or bandage
