A burn is an injury to the skin that happens from touching something hot.

A scald is a burn from hot liquid or steam.

If your child gets a burn or scald, first make sure the area is safe and there’s no risk of further injury to your child or yourself. Take your child to a safe place if possible.

Remove clothing, watches or jewellery around the burn immediately, if they aren’t stuck to the burn. Leave blisters alone.

Hold the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes. You can cool the burn for a few minutes at a time for up to 3 hours after the burn happens. Don’t delay getting medical help for severe burns.

Cool the burn, not the child. Stop cooling the burn after 20 minutes. Keep your child warm because hypothermia can happen quickly in children.

After cooling the burn, cover it with a loose, light, non-sticky dressing like plastic wrap or a clear plastic bag. Raise burned limbs to reduce swelling and pain.

Call an ambulance on 000 if the burn is to your child’s face, airway, hands or genitals; you think the burn is severe; or the burn covers a large part of your child’s body.

Go to your GP or a hospital if the burn is the size of a 20-cent piece or larger; the burn is deep, raw, angry or blistered; the pain persists or is severe; or you’re not sure how bad the burn is.

Don’t apply ice, iced water, lotions, moisturisers, oil, ointments, butter or flour, creams or powders to the burn. This will make the damage worse.