Burn

When To Call

Call 911 Now

• 2nd or 3rd degree burn covers a large area
• Trouble breathing with burn to the face
• Trouble breathing after being near fire, smoke or fumes
• Hard to wake up
• Acts or talks confused
• You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Eye or eyelid burn
• Burn goes all the way around an arm or leg
• Blistered burn and No past tetanus shots. Note: tetanus is the "T" in DTaP, TdaP, or Td vaccines.
• Center of the burn is white or charred
• Electrical burn
• Explosion or gun powder caused the burn
• Chemical burn (such as acid)
• Coughing after being near fire and smoke
• House fire burn
• Severe pain and not better 2 hours after taking pain medicine
• Burn looks infected (spreading redness, red streaks, swelling, or tender to the touch)
• You think your child has a serious burn
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Blister is present. Exception: small closed blister less than ½ inch or 12 mm size.
• Minor burn and last tetanus shot more than 10 years ago
• Burn looks dirty or is hard to clean and last tetanus shot more than 5 years ago
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• Burn not healed after 10 days
• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Minor heat or chemical burn
• Blisters less than ½ inch (12 mm) size

Care Advice

What You Should Know About Burns:

• Minor burns can be treated at home.
• This includes some small blisters.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Cold Pack for Pain:

• For pain, put a cold wet washcloth on the burn.
• Repeat as needed.

Pain Medicine:

• To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
• Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
• Use as needed.

Clean the Burn:

• Wash the burn gently with warm water.
• Do not use soap unless the burn is dirty. Reason: soaps can slow healing.

Closed Blisters - Don't Open:

• Don't open any small closed blisters.
• The outer skin protects the burn from infection.

Antibiotic Ointment for Open Blisters:

• For any broken blisters, use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed.
• Then cover it with a bandage. Change the dressing every day.
• Each time, clean the area. Use warm water and 1 or 2 gentle wipes with a wet washcloth.

What to Expect:

• Most often, burns hurt for about 2 days.
• It will peel like a sunburn in about a week.
• First- and second-degree burns don't leave scars.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Severe pain lasts over 2 hours after taking pain medicine
• Burn starts to look infected (spreading redness, pus)
• Burn not healed after 10 days
• You think your child needs to be seen
• Your child becomes worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Photos

Burn - First Degree

The photo shows a 6 inch (15 cm) wide area of mild redness without blistering on the forearm. This thermal burn was caused by spilled hot water.

First Aid Care Advice:

• Put the burned part in cold tap water right away or pour cold water over it for 10 minutes or cover with a cold wet washcloth.
• Reason: this lessens the depth of the burn and relieves pain.

Source: Self Care Decisions, LLC
Used with Permission from Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

Burn - Second Degree

This shows a second degree burn that is caused by heat. The burn area is swollen and bulging with blisters.

First Aid Care Advice:

• Right away, put the burned part in cold tap water or pour cold water over it for 10 minutes. Reason: this lessens the depth of the burn and relieves pain.
• Cover with a cold wet washcloth and seek emergency care.

Source: Self Care Decisions, LLC
From the Dr. William Weston Collection of Pediatric Dermatology. Used with permission.

FIRST AID Advice - Thermal Burn

• Right away, put the burned part in cold tap water or pour cool water over it for 20 minutes. Reason: lessen the depth of the burn and relieve the pain.
• For burns on the face, apply a cold wet washcloth.
• Do this right away. Don't take time to remove clothing.

Note: a thermal burn is any burn caused by heat.

Source: Self Care Decisions, LLC
Used with Permission from Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.