Burns in Children: Prevention and First Aid

Most burns in young children happen at home, in ordinary moments: a toddler reaches for a coffee mug, a pot handle sticks out over the edge of the stove, or bath water comes out of the tap hotter than expected. Children's skin is thinner than adult skin, so it burns faster and deeper at the same temperature. The good news is that most of these injuries can be prevented, and knowing the right first aid can make a real difference in how a burn heals.

Where burns happen and how to prevent them

In the kitchen

• Cook on the back burners when you can, and turn pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove.
• Keep children at least a few feet from the stove and oven while you cook. A "kid-free zone" marked with tape on the floor can help.
• Do not hold a child while cooking or carrying anything hot.
• Keep hot food and drinks away from table and counter edges. Skip tablecloths and placemats a toddler could pull down.
• Microwaved food and drinks can heat unevenly and have hot spots. Stir and test before serving, and never heat baby bottles in the microwave.
• Keep appliance cords, such as for kettles, slow cookers and air fryers, out of reach so they cannot be pulled.

Hot drinks

A cup of coffee or tea can still scald a small child long after it has cooled enough for an adult to sip. Use a travel mug with a lid, set drinks well out of reach, and avoid drinking anything hot while holding a baby or toddler.

Bath water

• Set your water heater so the hottest water at the tap is no more than 120°F. If you rent, ask your landlord.
• Always test bath water with your wrist or elbow before putting your child in. It should feel warm, not hot.
• Fill the tub, turn off the water, and check it before the child gets in. Do not run water while a child is in the tub.
• Never leave a young child alone in the bath, even for a moment. That rule also prevents drowning.

Fireplaces, heaters, candles and grills

• Glass fireplace doors can stay hot long after the fire is out. Use a safety screen or gate.
• Keep space heaters away from beds, curtains and play areas, and never leave them running unattended.
• Place candles out of reach and blow them out when you leave the room.
• Store matches and lighters locked up and out of sight.
• Keep kids away from grills, fire pits and campfires, which stay hot after cooking ends.

Other sources

• Hair tools: Curling irons and straighteners stay hot for a while after unplugging. Store them out of reach to cool.
• Outlets and cords: Use outlet covers and replace damaged cords to prevent electrical burns.
• Chemicals: Drain cleaners and some cleaning products can burn skin and eyes. Keep them locked up.
• Sun and hot surfaces: In San Antonio, playground slides, metal seat buckles, car seats and pavement can get hot enough to burn in summer. Touch surfaces before your child does.

And of course, have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and near sleeping areas, and test them monthly.

First aid for burns

If your child is burned, act quickly and stay calm:

1. Stop the burning. Move your child away from the heat source. If clothing is on fire, have them stop, drop and roll, or smother the flames with a blanket.
2. Cool the burn with cool running water for several minutes, until the pain eases. Use cool tap water, not cold. For a chemical burn, rinse with lots of running water and remove any clothing the chemical touched.
3. Remove tight items like rings, bracelets or tight clothing near the burn before it swells. Do not pull off anything stuck to the skin.
4. Cover the burn loosely with a clean, non-stick bandage or a clean cloth.
5. Treat pain. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help. Ask your pediatrician or pharmacist for the right dose by weight. Never give aspirin to children.

What not to do

• No ice or ice water. It can damage the skin further.
• No butter, oil, toothpaste or other home remedies. They trap heat and raise the risk of infection.
• Do not pop blisters. They protect the healing skin underneath.
• Do not use fluffy cotton that can stick to the wound.

For an electrical burn, turn off the power before touching your child. Every electrical burn needs to be checked by a doctor, because damage can be deeper than it looks. For chemical burns, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 after rinsing.

The AAP's page on treating and preventing burns and MedlinePlus on burns have more details.

Caring for a minor burn at home

A small burn that is only red, like a mild sunburn, usually heals in about a week. Keep it clean and covered if it may rub on clothing. A small blister can be left alone and covered loosely. Watch over the next few days for signs of infection:

• Redness or swelling that spreads
• Pus or cloudy drainage
• A bad smell
• Fever
• Pain that gets worse instead of better

When to call us

Call your A thru Z Pediatrics office for any burn that blisters, any burn larger than a small coin, redness and pain that last more than a few hours, signs of infection, or if you are not sure how serious it is. Burns on babies always deserve a call.

Go to the ER or call 911 for:

• Large burns, or blistering burns bigger than your child's palm
• Burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or over a joint
• Burns that look white, leathery or charred, or that do not hurt (a sign of a deep burn)
• Any electrical burn, or a chemical burn to the eyes
• Burns from a fire, especially with coughing, hoarse voice or trouble breathing from smoke
• Burns that wrap all the way around an arm, leg or finger

For a follow-up on a healing burn, request a visit.