Burns

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Burn - First Degree	First Aid - Burn - Chemical
First Aid - Burn - Thermal

When to Call Your Doctor

	Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If
	For all new burns, see FIRST AID 2nd or 3rd degree burn covers a large area Trouble breathing with burn to the face Trouble breathing after being near fire and smoke Hard to wake up Acts or talks confused You think your child is having a life-threatening emergency
	Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
	For all new burns, see FIRST AID You think your child has a serious burn Eye or eyelid burn Burn goes all the way around an arm or leg 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 improved 2 hours after taking pain medicine Burn looks infected You think your child needs to be seen urgently
	Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If
	You think your child needs to be seen, but not urgently Blister is present (Exception: Small closed blister less than ½ inch or 12 mm size)
	Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
	You have other questions or concerns Minor burn and last tetanus shot over 10 years ago Burn not healed after 10 days
	Parent Care at Home If
	Minor heat or chemical burn

Causes & Health Information

Degrees of Burns:

1st degree. Red skin without blisters.
2nd degree. Red skin with blisters. Heals from the bottom up, not from the edges. Takes 2 to 3 weeks. Small closed blisters decrease pain and act as a natural bandage.
3rd degree. Deep burns with white or charred skin. Skin feeling is lost. Heals in from the edges. Grafts are often needed if it is larger than a quarter in size. (Burns over 1 inch or 2.5 cm.) Skin grafts help limit scarring.

CARE ADVICE FOR 1ST DEGREE BURNS OR SMALL BLISTERS

What You Should Know:
- Minor burns can be treated at home.
- This includes some small blisters.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Pain Medicine:
- For pain, put a cold wet washcloth on the burn.
- Also, give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen for a few days. See Dose Table.
Cleansing:
- 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 any small closed blisters.
- The outer skin protects the burn from infection.
Antibiotic Ointment:
- For any broken blisters, use an antibiotic ointment such as Polysporin. No prescription is needed.
- Then cover it with a Band-Aid. Change the dressing every other day.
- Use warm water and 1 or 2 gentle wipes with a wet washcloth to clean.
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
- Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.