Spring

Reducing the Risk of Burns

How to Rate a Burn's Severity

Medical professionals gauge the severity of burns by three factors: degree, extent and location.

Medical professionals gauge the severity of burns by three factors: degree, extent and location.

Degree is basically a burn's depth. First-degree burns involve the outer layer of skin, making it red, painful and sensitive to touch.


"Keep the burn under cool, running water," says Dr. Strait. "Then keep it dry."

A second-degree burn is red or mottled, often with blisters, swelling and pain. "If the blister is the size of an adult thumbnail or smaller, parents can cool it with running water, then put on a protective bandage to keep it clean. Don't apply ointment.

"If the blister breaks, remove the dead skin, clean the burn area with soap and water, and apply antibiotic cream. If the burn develops redness, swelling or white, creamy pus, it may be infected and should be seen by a doctor," he advises.

Infected burns are more susceptible to tetanus than the average wound, so that's another reason to keep a child's immunizations up to date.

A third-degree burn involves all layers of the skin into the tissue beneath. It appears white or charred black. A third-degree burn needs medical attention immediately.

"In the case of chemicals, remove the clothing to prevent further burning, cool off the burn with running water, then wrap it in a clean cloth. Don't use ointment – doctors will have to scrub it off in the emergency department. Get medical care immediately," Dr. Strait says.

Children with burns on more than 10 percent of their body need medical help. The same is true if the burns are on the face, hands, feet or diaper area.

"A doctor should see a large-area scald burn, and any burn larger than the palm of the hand," says Dr. Strait. "It's better to be overly cautious."

For most parents, their goal is to create the coziest, warmest home they can. But sometimes, those little, literal touches of warmth can become hazards themselves.

A mug of steaming cocoa can tip and scald. Bath water can burn. Cleaning products can sear.

Nearly every room in the house – plus the garage – has its potential for burns.

"Scald burns are the most common, and they usually occur in the kitchen," says Richard Strait, MD, an Emergency Department physician at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "Most of the children burned are age five and younger."

Burns and smoke inhalation are one of the leading causes of death among children, so it's helpful to do a sweep through the house to eliminate some of the risks.

Kitchen

"An adult can drop a cup of hot coffee or a child can spill cocoa and become scalded," says Dr. Strait. "Children can also pull a pot of boiling water onto themselves, so it's important to turn the handles away from the edge of the stove."

The heat from water dissipates quickly, but the heat from hot oil or fat continues to burn as long as it's on the skin. "A parent needs to cool the burn right away, under running water in a sink or bathtub, to stop the burn. Use cool, not cold water, and never ice – ice can worsen the burn, damaging the skin the way frostbite does," Dr. Strait advises.

Each kitchen should have a fire extinguisher, and every home needs smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Bathroom

Children can be scalded in the tub, so they should never be left there unsupervised. "Parents can't answer the phone or the doorbell and leave the child alone," says Dr. Strait.

To safeguard against burns, Dr. Strait recommends that the water heater be kept to a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. "Homeowners can do this themselves. Families in apartments can check with their landlords."

Such chemicals as hair relaxants and caustic cleansers can burn children, and should be kept well out of their reach.

Bedroom

"Parents should always make sure that their children wear flame-retardant pajamas," says Dr. Strait. And help children keep a path clear to their window and bedroom door for emergency exits.

Garage / Basement

Gasoline and paint thinners are dangerous even if a child doesn't swallow them: They will burn if left on the skin for a prolonged period of time. Keep these and other powerful chemicals tightly sealed in appropriate containers and away from a child's reach.

Throughout the House

"Parents should cover electrical outlets and check electrical cords regularly, to be sure they're not frayed. Electrical burns are especially bad, because the current goes into the deep tissue and can damage muscles," says Dr. Strait.

"If a family uses space heaters, they should look for the ceramic ones that aren't hot to the touch. And, always keep cigarettes and matches away from children," he concludes.