Raising Children Network: the Australian parenting website
  • Suitable for 0-8Years

Burns: prevention and first aid

By Raising Children Network
 
 

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.

How to prevent burns

  • Supervise children constantly, especially around stoves, ovens, microwaves, heaters and other appliances.
  • Turn handles on pots and pans towards the back of the stove when cooking.
  • Buy children close-fitting nightwear and dressing gowns with ‘low fire danger’ labels.
  • Install guards around heaters to discourage children from standing too close.
  • Install a fixed fire guard around any open fires, or electric or gas heaters.
  • Install a guard around the hot plates on your stove.
  • Lock matches and cigarette lighters up high and out of reach.
  • Smoke away from children.
  • Save ironing for after children are asleep or put them (or you) in a playpen while you iron.
  • Always supervise children carefully around any naked flames, such as open fires, gas burners, incense burners and candles. If you leave the house, put out all naked flames.
  • Keep a close watch on children while the barbecue is heating up, being used or cooling down – some barbecues can keep their heat for hours. Extinguish embers and briquettes with water, and rake ashes so they lose their heat more quickly.

  • 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.

The dangers and what you can do about them

Indoors

Hot surfacesWhat you can do about them
Heaters (electric, hydronic, wood-fired) and smouldering ashes in fireplaces Fire guards
Stoves and hot oven doorsStove guards
Pots and pans, toasters, sandwich presses, slow cookers and rice cookersKeep 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 coffeeGive your baby to someone else to hold while you have hot drinks
Cigarettes, pipes and cigarsAsk smokers to keep these out of reach
IronsUse 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

  • Barbecues and outdoor grills pose a danger both during cooking and afterwards, as they take time to cool down.

  • Gas heaters commonly used on patios can topple over.
  • Exhaust pipes, especially on motorbikes, are easy to reach and can cause serious burns.
  • Seatbelt buckles can become very hot in high temperatures.
  • Tools, such as blow torches and soldering irons, should be kept locked away.
  • Lawnmowers retain heat for several minutes after the grass has been cut.
  • Metal playground equipment, especially slides, can get hot enough to burn a child.
  • Campfires left unattended can be a risk.
  • Embers, coals and ashes can stay hot for up to eight hours after the fire has been buried under dirt or sand.
  • Bushfires can be a risk, particularly when people try to outrun them in cars or on foot. Read the Country Fire Authority's guide to making a bushfire plan if you think there is a possibility of a bushfire in your area.

First aid for burns

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:

  • the burn is to the face, airway, hands or genitals
  • the burn is larger than the size of the child's hand.

Definitely go to a doctor, hospital or medical centre if:

  • the burn or scald is the size of a 20-cent piece or larger
  • the burn is deep, even if the child doesn't feel any pain
  • the burn looks raw, angry or blistered
  • the pain persists or is severe
  • you're not sure how bad the burn is.

Things not to do with burns

  • Do not peel off any clothing that is stuck to the burn. Do not break any blisters.
  • Do not apply ice, iced water, lotions, moisturisers, oil, ointments, creams or powders to the burn. These will only need to be removed to treat the burn properly. Butter or flour can make the damage worse.
  • If the burn is large, don't cool it for longer than 20 minutes, as hypothermia can result quickly in children.
 
  • Last reviewed04-05-2006
  • References

    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.