A child has no way of knowing that a shiny exhaust pipe, a small iron or any other hot surface can hurt and burn, or that hot water can burn in the same way fires can. The best way to prevent burns is to keep children away from fire and hot surfaces, and to keep a close eye on them whenever they stray too close to things that can burn.
Get immediate medical help from a doctor, hospital or medical centre if a burn or scald is the size of a 20-cent piece or larger, looks raw, angry or blistered, or if the pain persists or is severe.
Always call an ambulance if a burn is larger than the size of the child's hand, or is on the face, neck or genitals.
Fires can start as a result of cooking accidents, smouldering cigarettes, electrical faults, candles, incense and children playing with lighters and matches. Find out what you can do to prevent fires, and develop and practice a plan in case there is a fire in your home.
Indoors | ||
| Hot surfaces | What you can do about them | |
|---|---|---|
| Heaters (electric, hydronic, wood-fired) and smouldering ashes in fireplaces | Fire guards | |
| Stoves and hot oven doors | Stove guards | |
| Pots and pans, toasters, sandwich presses, slow cookers and rice cookers | Keep children out of the kitchen while you are cooking | |
| Hot water, such as bathwater and dishwater | Turn down your thermostat so water isn’t hot enough to instantly scald | |
| Hot drinks, such as cups of tea and coffee | Give your baby to someone else to hold while you have hot drinks | |
| Cigarettes, pipes and cigars | Ask smokers to keep these out of reach | |
| Irons | Use a playpen: either stand in one to iron or put your child in one while you iron | |
| Bedside lamps and just about any other hot surface, including light bulbs | Try to keep these out of reach, or unplugged, until your child is old enough (about three) to understand that they burn | |
Outdoors |
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Make sure the area is safe, and that there is no further risk of injury. Take the child to a safe place if possible.
Take off the child’s clothing immediately, but only if it is not stuck to the skin.
Treat the burn with cold tap water only. Cool the burnt area under running cold tap water for a minimum of 10 minutes to reduce tissue damage and pain. Hold the child to provide comfort.
Cover the burn with a loose, light, non-sticky dressing such as aluminium foil, plastic wrap or a clean, wet cloth. Raise burnt limbs.
If you are not sure how severe the burn is, contact a doctor, hospital or medical centre immediately.
Call an ambulance if:
Definitely go to a doctor, hospital or medical centre if:
Cassell, E., Clapperton, A., & Ashby, K. (2004). Unintentional burns and scalds in vulnerable populations: The very young and the very old, Victoria July 2001 to June 2003. Hazard, 57(Autumn), 1-17.
Turner, C., Spinks, A., McClure, R., & Nixon, J. (2004). Community-based interventions for the prevention of burns and scalds in children. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2.