09/12/2022
First aid for a baby or child who has a burn do's and don'ts
1️⃣ Cool the burn under cold running water for at least 20 minutes.
Cooling the burn will reduce pain, swelling and the risk of scarring. The sooner and longer a burn is cooled with cold running water, the less the impact of the injury.
2️⃣ After the burn has been cooled, cover it with cling film or a clean plastic bag.
This helps prevent infection by keeping the area clean. Cling film or plastic won’t stick to the burn and will reduce pain by keeping air from the skin’s surface.
3️⃣ Call 999 if necessary.
If you can't call 999 get someone else to do it. The burn may need urgent medical treatment. If you’re in any doubt, seek medical advice and always seek medical advice for a baby or child who has been burned.
4 things that you MUSTN'T do when a baby or child has a burn ⬇
❌ Don't apply butter, cream or toothpaste to the burnt area. Butter and cream contain oils. Oils retain heat, which is the opposite of what you’re trying to do. Toothpaste often contains menthol, which may give a superficial feeling of cooling, but does not effectively help a burn.
If you put anything on top of a burn and it later needs to be removed in hospital, it may cause further pain and damage.
❌ Don't apply ice to cool the burn down. Ice can damage the skin.
❌ Don’t use any adhesive bandages as they’ll stick to the skin and can cause further damage.
After cooling, cover the burn with cling film or a clean plastic bag to help prevent infection.
❌ Don’t try to remove anything that is stuck to the burn as it may cause more damage.
You can remove clothing that is near the burn but not stuck to it.
