First aid for burns and scalds

Act fast if your baby or child gets a burn or is scalded. A scald is a burn caused by hot liquid or steam.

You need to stop the burning process as soon as possible.

This may mean:

• removing the child from the area
• dousing flames with water
• smothering flames with a blanket

Do not put yourself at risk of getting burnt as well.

You can treat scalds in the same way as burns.

Burns can be very painful for your baby or child. They can cause blisters and burnt, black or red skin. Burns and scalds above the neck could affect breathing or vision.

How to treat burns and scalds

Give your child basic first aid if the burn is minor or while you wait for medical help or advice:

1. Cool the burn

Cool the burn or scald immediately. Run cool water over it for around 20 minutes.

This can help:

• ease pain
• reduce the risk of scarring
• reduce the need for surgery

Only put cool water on the burnt skin. Try to keep your child warm by using layers of clothing or a blanket. But avoid putting these over the injured area.

Keeping your child warm will prevent hypothermia. This is where their body temperature drops to less than 35 degrees Celsius. Hypothermia is more likely to happen if you are cooling a large area of skin.

If you cannot apply cool water immediately, do it as soon as possible after the injury.

Only use burn gels or hydrogels if there is no cool running water nearby. A hydrogel is a gel-like dressing for burns.

Apply cool water when it is available, even if you use a burn gel or hydrogel.

2. Remove clothing and accessories

Remove any nappies, clothing and jewellery near the injury, unless they are stuck to the skin. Never pull or cut off materials stuck to the skin.

If a piece of clothing is stuck to skin, do not remove it. Cut around it instead.

3. Do not put anything on the injury

Do not put any of the following on the burn or scald:

• ice
• fats or butter
• creams
• ointments
• lotions
• sprays
• adhesive (sticky) dressings or plasters

4. Cover the burn loosely with cling film

Cover the injury loosely with cling film if it is likely to rub against objects. Do this only after cooling it under running cool water for 20 minutes. You can use a clean plastic bag if the injury is on the hand.

Getting medical attention

While waiting for an ambulance, give your child first aid.

Emergency services and when to get help

When to go to the emergency department

Go to your nearest emergency department if:

• a baby or small child has been burned or scalded
• the burn area is larger than a €2 coin
• the burn is on your child's face, hands or genitalia
• any burns appear white or chalky
• there is evidence of an inhalation injury - this may include soot or smoke residue around the nose or mouth
• there are signs your child is in shock, such as cold, clammy skin, sweating, fast and shallow breathing, weakness or dizziness
• there are any chemical or electrical burns, even if they are small

When to go to your GP

Go to your GP if:

• you need advice about minor burns or scalds - minor burns are smaller than a €2 coin
• the area around a healing burn becomes red, or pus starts to come out of it - this could be a sign of infection

Chemical burns

Some household cleaning products can cause burn injuries. This is because of the chemicals in them.

Chemical burns can be very damaging. They need immediate medical attention at an emergency department (ED).

Call the poisons information line on 01 809 2166 if your child has swallowed or been exposed to a chemical. The line is open every day from 8am to 10pm.

Try to find out what caused the burn. If you can, tell the healthcare professional treating your child.

If you think your child has a chemical burn:

• remove any clothing the chemical has spilled on
• brush the chemical off their skin, if the chemical is dry
• use running water to remove any traces of the chemical from the burnt area

Prevent burns and scalds

Children can suffer deep burns and scalds very quickly. Their skin is thinner than an adult’s.

Serious injuries often need prolonged treatment and skin grafting. Burns and scalds can have lasting physical and emotional effects.

You can prevent many burns and scalds if you know what hazards to look out for.

These include:

• hot liquids, such as baths, hot drinks and heated bottles
• hobs on a cooker
• hot food
• electrical equipment, including hair straighteners
• flames
• chemicals

There are things you can do to help prevent burns and scalds to your child.