Burn Injuries
There are many causes of burns in children, including sunburn, hot liquids, and those due to fire, electrical contact, or chemicals. All of these can cause permanent injury and scarring to the skin. Initial first aid is important. Minor, superficial burns can be treated at home.
Q. What immediate first aid should I provide in case of burn?
A. We should run tap water over the burn long enough to cool the area and relieve the pain. It might take 5 to 15 minutes. It is not advised to put ice on the burn. Even rubbing a burn wound should be avoided. One should also avoid putting butter, ghee or powder on the burned area.
The clothes should be soaked in water and then removed carefully from the burned area without causing any damage to the skin. If clothing is stuck firmly to the skin, leave it there, cut it around the burned area and then remove. The burned area should then be covered with sterile gauze or a clean cloth.
Q. When should I rush to the doctor immediately?
A. If the area of burn is big or if the redness and pain continues for many hours, one must go to the Pediatrician. Burns on face, hand, mouth and genitalia need to be seen by a Pediatrician. All electrical burns also should be referred to the Pediatrician immediately.
If your pediatrician has suggested to manage the wound at home and prescribed an ointment and explained dressing, always watch for increasing redness, pain, foul odour or pus discharge from burned area. In any of these situations it is advised to revisit the Pediatrician.
Q. How do I safeguard children against burn injuries at home?
A. There are three aspects of safeguarding against burn injuries. It requires installation of appliances, precautions in our day to day practices and preparedness in case of fire.
• If possible one should install smoke detectors at home and test them frequently.
• To place fire extinguishers at places where the risk of fire is highest. It is important to familiarize with its use.
• Not to leave food cooking on the stove
• To keep flammable liquids in lock, out of the reach of children
• To avoid plugging appliances into extension cords
• To keep matches and lighters away from children and avoid smoking at home
• To check water temperature from Geezer before the child goes under it
• To avoid using elevators during fire, use staircase instead and to go to refuge area in high rise
• To practice fire drills at home, including teaching children to crawl to exit, rolling on the ground, meeting at a fixed point outside the house
• To supervise children bursting fire crackers during festival like Diwali