Burn Safety: Quick Tips for Kids

by Marian Nguyen, RN, BSN | Jul 1, 2019 | Family Safety and Preparedness, First Aid/Health, Safety & First Aid

You’ve probably heard a lot of “home remedies” for different ailments like burns and a lot of these have left me shaking my head. 

When I was a kid, do you know what my mom used to put on burns? Toothpaste! And then there are those folks who swear by putting butter on burns. Hopefully, no one is doing that anymore.

Kids Will Be Kids

I think we all know many of the burns that kids experience are preventable. And, of course, kids will be kids. 

Even though we try our best, it’s literally impossible to keep our eyes on our kiddos 100% of the time and keep them from getting into things that can burn them. Kids want to have fun and don’t always think about the consequences. 

Study Reports Burns Are Fifth Most Common Cause of Accidental Death

According to Johns Hopkins Medical School, burns and fires are the fifth most common cause of accidental death in children and adults. That means approximately 3,500 deaths per year. 

The age group most affected are toddlers and young children (ages 4 and under). In fact, children 4 years old and younger who are hospitalized for burns are 65% likely to be the victims of scald burns with only 20% being from contact burns. 

Watch Kids Around Water

Many of these scald burns come from hot tap water burns. Thankfully, regulations and the lack of open fires in homes have decreased burn injuries in the past thirty years. But they do still occur, no matter how much you try to stop them.

When dealing with burns, it can be difficult as there are so many different types and severity: thermal, electrical, and chemical burns and first-, second-, or third-degree burns. Even I have a hard time keeping track. 

Determine If the Burn Is a

First-Degree Burn

Hopefully, you’ll never have to experience any of these as a parent, but if you do, it’s important to keep calm and follow the steps. 

If the burn is minor, a first-degree burn such as a sunburn where the skin is just reddened but still intact:

• Cool the burn with cold compresses or cool water (NO ice!)
• Cover the burn with a clean bandage
• If you need to ease the pain of the burn, use over the counter pain meds. Also, aloe vera or burn gel can be applied for extra relief.
• If the skin blisters, do not pop them. This may increase the chance of infection. Instead, just cover them and keep them clean.

See a Doctor for Any Other Type of Burn

In a child especially, the severity of the burn depends on the size and location of the burn. There’s actually a whole formula used to determine it, but I say keep it simple. If you have any doubt that it’s anything more than a minor first-degree burn, seek professional medical help ASAP. It’s better to be too careful than not careful enough!

Discuss Safety with Your Kids

With the Fourth of July festivities coming up, it’s a good idea to discuss safety around the grill, fireworks and other activities that may have a flammable element with your kids.

Hopefully, this helps to inform you a bit more if you are ever to have to deal with a burn to one of your children. Just remember, please, NO toothpaste!

Be Prepared to Provide First Aid!

At the Fourth of July celebration, the park or playing ball – be prepared for the sun AND accidents with a first aid kit designed exclusively with you and your kids in mind.  Check out PreparaKit.com for kits and tools created for busy parents who want to be ready for the unexpected.