Burns and scalds
Burns in children can be caused by a number of different things including fires, contact with hot objects such as radiators, hot liquids such as hot drinks, sunburn, extreme cold, corrosive chemicals and electric shocks.
If your child has any of the following:
- A burn covering an area larger than the size of your child’s hand
- Skin which appears white or charred
- Blistered skin at the site of the burn
- Burns to the face, neck, hands, feet, genitals or over any joints
- A burn caused by a chemical or an electric shock
- May have inhaled any smoke
- Cold or clammy skin
- Any difficulty breathing
- A temperature above 38°c following a burn
- Becomes lethargic or unresponsive
You need urgent help.
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
Please commence the following first aid:
- Remove your child from the source of heat, while keeping yourself safe
- Remove any clothing/jewellery around the burn, unless stuck
- Cool the burn under cold, running water for at least 20 minutes
- Keep the patient warm with towels/blankets
If your child has any of the following:
- A burn in a child under the age of 10
- Pain not controlled with paracetamol and ibuprofen
- The skin around the burn is becoming more red and inflamed
You need to contact a clinician today.
Call NHS 111 – dial 111, contact your GP or go to your nearest Urgent Care Centre / Minor Injury Unit
Please commence the following first aid:
- Remove your child from the source of heat, while keeping yourself safe
- Remove any clothing/jewellery around the burn, unless stuck
- Cool the burn under cold, running water for at least 20 minutes
- Keep the patient warm with towels/blankets
If none of the above features are present
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS 111 – dial 111
This guidance has been reviewed and adapted by healthcare professionals across North East and North Cumbria with consent from the Hampshire development groups.
Choose appropriate sized spacer with mask (or mouthpiece if child is over 3 years with good technique and is not significantly short of breath).
-
Shake the inhaler well and remove cap.
-
Fit the inhaler into the opening at the end of the spacer.
-
Place mask over the child’s face or mouthpiece in their mouth ensuring a good seal
-
Press the inhaler once and allow the child to take 5 slow breaths between each dose or count to 10
-
Remove the inhaler and shake between every puff. Wait 1 minute between puffs.
Repeat steps 1 – 5 for subsequent doses
Plastic spacers should be washed before 1st use and every month as per manufacturer’s guidelines
Choose appropriate sized spacer with mask (or mouthpiece if child is over 3 years with good technique and is not significantly short of breath).
-
Shake the inhaler well and remove cap.
-
Fit the inhaler into the opening at the end of the spacer.
-
Place mask over the child’s face or mouthpiece in their mouth ensuring a good seal
-
Press the inhaler once and allow the child to take 5 slow breaths between each dose or count to 10
-
Remove the inhaler and shake between every puff. Wait 1 minute between puffs.
Repeat steps 1 – 5 for subsequent doses
Plastic spacers should be washed before 1st use and every month as per manufacturer’s guidelines
- Keep your child well hydrated by offering them lots to drink
- Most children with coughs and colds do not require treatment with antibiotics.
- If your child seems to be in pain or discomfort, you can give your child Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, following the instructions on the container.
- Do not give cough syrup. It is not recommended for children under 6 years. It can make children sleepy and does not help.
- Try using saline nose drops or spray if your baby has a blocked nose.
- For children over 2 years, vapour rubs (containing camphor, menthol and/or eucalyptus) may help children sleep better.
What to do immediately if your child has a burn:
- Remove the child from the source of heat as quickly as possible while avoiding getting burned yourself.
- Remove any clothing or jewellery, including nappies from the burned area UNLESS they are stuck to the burn as removing these could cause more damage.
- Cool the burn under cold running water for at least 20 minutes. Try to keep the rest of your child warm with blankets while doing so.
Caring for burns at home:
- Once cooled for at least 20 minutes as above - covering the burn with cling film will keep the burn clean and help relieve pain but will not stick to the burn.
- Give simple pain relief like paracetamol (calpol) or ibuprofen (nurofen) as required. Do not exceed the recommended dose on the instructions
- The appearance of burns can sometimes change over time so watch it closely and seek medical attention if it develops any of the concerning features outlined previously.
- The area of the your child’s hand, including fingers, corresponds to roughly 1% of their body’s surface area. Any burns this size or bigger are an emergency and you need to call 999 or attend the nearest A&E.
Do not:
- Put ice on the burn.
- Put greasy or oily substances, such as butter; or toothpaste on the burn.
- Cover the wound with anything fabric including bandages, plasters and cotton wool as these will stick to the burn and may be difficult or painful to remove.
Where should you seek help?
- If it is non-urgent, speak to your local pharmacist or health visitor.
- If your child has any of the above features in amber, urgently see your GP. For an urgent out-of-hours GP appointment, call NHS 111.
- You should only call 999 or go your nearest A&E department in critical or life threatening situations or if your child is showing any of the signs in the red section above.
A&E departments provide vital care for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. If you’re not sure it’s an emergency, call 111 for advice.
Sound advice
A&E departments provide vital care for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. If you’re not sure it’s an emergency, call 111 for advice.
Sound advice
If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, call 111. An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.
Sound advice
Use NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, call 111. An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.
Sound advice
Use NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
GPs assess, treat and manage a whole range of health problems. They also provide health education, give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical procedures. Your GP will arrange a referral to a hospital specialist should you need it.
Sound advice
You have a choice of service:
- Doctors/GPs can treat many illnesses that do not warrant a visit to A&E.
- Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about visiting the GP or going to a walk in centre
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
GPs assess, treat and manage a whole range of health problems. They also provide health education, give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical procedures. Your GP will arrange a referral to a hospital specialist should you need it.
Sound advice
You have a choice of service:
- Doctors/GPs can treat many illnesses that do not warrant a visit to A&E.
- Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about visiting the GP or going to a walk in centre
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
School nurses care for children and young people, aged 5-19, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community. They work closely with education staff and other agencies to support parents, carers and the children and young people, with physical and/or emotional health needs.
Contacting the School Nurse
Some primary and secondary schools may have an allocated school nurse, however this can vary depending on the area – telephone your child’s school to ask for the contact details of your school nursing team.
There is also a specialist nurse who works with families who choose to educate their children at home.
Sound Advice
Before your child starts school your health visitor will meet with the school nursing team to transfer their care to the school nursing service. The school nursing team consists of a school nursing lead, specialist public health practitioners and school health staff nurses.
They all have a role in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, by:-
- encouraging healthier lifestyles
- giving information, advice and support to children, young people and their families
- supporting children with complex health needs
Each member of the team has links with many other professionals who also work with children including community paediatricians, child and adolescent mental health teams, health visitors and speech and language therapists. The school health nursing service also forms part of the multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding issues.
School nurses care for children and young people, aged 5-19, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community. They work closely with education staff and other agencies to support parents, carers and the children and young people, with physical and/or emotional health needs.
Contacting the School Nurse
Some primary and secondary schools may have an allocated school nurse, however this can vary depending on the area – telephone your child’s school to ask for the contact details of your school nursing team.
There is also a specialist nurse who works with families who choose to educate their children at home.
Sound Advice
Before your child starts school your health visitor will meet with the school nursing team to transfer their care to the school nursing service. The school nursing team consists of a school nursing lead, specialist public health practitioners and school health staff nurses.
They all have a role in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, by:-
- encouraging healthier lifestyles
- giving information, advice and support to children, young people and their families
- supporting children with complex health needs
Each member of the team has links with many other professionals who also work with children including community paediatricians, child and adolescent mental health teams, health visitors and speech and language therapists. The school health nursing service also forms part of the multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding issues.
Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness through the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.
Health Visitors can also make referrals for you to other health professionals for example hearing or vision concerns or to the Community Paediatricians or to the child and adolescent mental health services.
Contact them by phoning your Health Visitor Team or local Children’s Centre.
Sound advice
Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:
- Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
- Exercise, hygiene and safety
- Your child’s growth and development
- Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
- Safety in the home
- Stopping smoking
- Contraception and sexual health
- Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
- Toilet training
- Minor illnesses
For more information watch the video: What does a health visitor do?
Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness through the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.
Health Visitors can also make referrals for you to other health professionals for example hearing or vision concerns or to the Community Paediatricians or to the child and adolescent mental health services.
Contact them by phoning your Health Visitor Team or local Children’s Centre.
Sound advice
Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:
- Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
- Exercise, hygiene and safety
- Your child’s growth and development
- Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
- Safety in the home
- Stopping smoking
- Contraception and sexual health
- Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
- Toilet training
- Minor illnesses
For more information watch the video: What does a health visitor do?
Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.
Sound advice
- Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP.
- Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately.
- Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.
Sound advice
- Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP.
- Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately.
- Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
Self-care
You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.
Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.
Sound advice
Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
Self-care
You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.
Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.
Sound advice
Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
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