First aid steps for children with burns

This is an automatically translated article.

Posted by Master, Doctor Pham Khac Tiep - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital
Burns are common daily-life accidents in children. Depending on the extent of the burn and the cause, there are different treatment and treatment directions. However, whatever the cause, first aid steps are important in reducing the severity of a burn.

1. Causes of burns in children

The majority of children's burns are caused by exposure to boiling water, although the mortality rate from burns is quite low, but children are at risk of many serious sequelae, affecting motor function and trauma. psychological trauma later.
In addition to boiling water, some other causes of burns in children include:
Burns on fire, boiling oil, water in a kettle, boiling soup... Burns caused by children coming into contact with hot objects or hot objects such as coal stoves, fireplaces, irons... Potty burns, thermal burns caused by exposure to electricity or standing for too long in the sun. Children can also be burned by chemicals such as detergents, watch batteries, iron glue, etc.

2. First aid steps when a child is burned

First aid steps for a burned child include:
Drain the burn under cool running water Immediately place the burned area in cool (not cold) water or under running water. Keep the wound in the water for at least 5 - 15 minutes.
Do not use ice to apply or apply to the burn.
Take off burnt clothing If clothing gets on your skin, do not take it off. Leave it in place and cut the clothes around it.
Cover the burn Use nonstick gauze or a clean cloth.
If the burn is mild, you can apply antibiotic ointment
Do not put butter, grease or anything else on the burn
Pain relief Use an over-the-counter pain reliever for young children like Paracetamol at 10 -15mg/kg/time. Call your pediatrician first if your child has never taken this medicine before.
You can treat minor burns at home - the burn looks like a sunburn. Second or third degree burns require immediate medical attention. However, you probably won't be sure to what extent your child was burned, so take him or her to the hospital immediately after the initial first aid so that the doctors can assess the extent of the burn and prescribe treatment for your child.

3. How to prevent children from getting burned

Although parents will not be able to protect their children all the time, but applying the following methods will help children prevent burns effectively at home:
Leave chemicals, lighters, iron glue .. Keep out of reach of children Always keep electrical appliances out of reach of children, check power lines, remove old, damaged wires, handles, plugs... Be careful when letting young children bathe hot and cold bath or bath Do not allow children to use the walker in the kitchen area For children under 6 months old, do not bring them out in the sun Store and store cleaning products safely at height Pediatrics at the system Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in children,... With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.
MORE:
First aid rules for burns First aid for burns, boiling water burns Sequelae of burns: What you need to know

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