A child got burned - what to do?

Children's skin is thinner than adults', so even a short contact with a hot object or liquid can cause deeper burns or affect a larger area of the skin, and the consequences can be more severe and recovery longer. Accordingly, you must react quickly to prevent complications.

First remove the cause of the injury (heat source)!

Cool the injured area!

  • Cool a minor burn with a stream of cold water or by immersion in cold water for at least 10-20 minutes, and then, if necessary, seek medical assistance.
  • You can put cold compresses over the burn, preferably wet sterile gauze (30-45 min), but not ice! Cool the surface of the burn until the pain stops.

Remove clothes and jewelry!

Remove all clothing and jewelry from the burnt surface as soon as possible. Removing clothes and jewelry is important, because they can additionally retain heat on the skin and limit blood flow to the burned area, if there is swelling of the affected body part. Never forcibly remove clothes that are stuck on burnt skin, because you can cause additional injury; instead, cut the material around the wound or tear it at the seams.

Cover the burn! 

Gently cover the burn with sterile gauze or a clean cloth to prevent infection.

Relieve the pain!

According to the child's age, you can give him a pain medication (paracetamol or ibuprofen, in a dose according to his/her age), following the manufacturer's instructions in detail. If the child has not taken these medications before, be sure to consult your pediatrician because of the possibility of allergic reaction.

If the child is unconscious and shows no signs of life, it is necessary to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately and call the emergency medical service as soon as possible (194).

What not to do?

  • Do not immerse babies and young children with larger burns in cold water, as they can get hypothermia, and large burnt areas must not be cooled for more than 5 minutes!
  • Do not put oil, butter, or any other fat on the burn!
  • Do not rub burns, as this may aggravate the injury.
  • Never touch the burn or puncture the resulting blisters!
  • Never yell at a child and scold him/her!
  • Don't panic, because this will scare the child even more!

Pay attention

  • First-degree burns (milder burns that look like sunburn and cover a small area of skin) can be treated at home.
  • Larger and more severe burns (second- and third-degree burns) require urgent medical attention!
  • In case of any burns in a baby or young child, consult your paediatrician!