Parenthood
Other dangers
- Button batteries, if swallowed, can burn through the child’s oesophagus. Check that they are securely screwed into their toys, and be careful of batteries contained within greetings cards.
- Curling tongs, hair straighteners and irons remain incredibly hot for a long time after they have been unplugged. Always keep them, and their flex, well out of reach.
- Radiators should be encased in a radiator cover.
Outdoors keep children away from barbeques (even when you’ve finished using them) and be particularly vigilant around bonfires and fireworks.
It is highly recommended that you attend a practical or online First Aid course to learn how to help in a medical emergency. First Aid for Life and onlinefirstaid.com provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information.
For more information visit: www.firstaidforlife.org.uk or contact [email protected] 0208 675 4036
Burns, Falls and Emergency Calls is the ultimate guide to the prevention and treatment of childhood accidents. Endorsed by the Child Accident Prevention Trust and the Good Toy Guide and highly acclaimed by parents and child carers.
Emma Hammett is offering a free copy of her Bestselling book to any NCT Clapham parents who book a first aid course with them.
Treating Burns and Scalds
- All burns should be treated immediately with cool running water.
- Immediately, but extremely carefully remove loose clothing covering the burn, but do not take clothes off if there is any risk that the skin has stuck to them or if the skin has blistered.
- Put the affected area under cool running water for at least 10 minutes (ideally longer). Remember you are cooling the burn and not the casualty
- Keep the casualty warm and dry and watch for any signs of shock
- Phone an ambulance, particularly if a large area is affected or if the skin is broken or blistered, and keep the area under cool running water whilst you are waiting for the ambulance to arrive
- A burn is measured using the size of your hand, which is roughly equivalent to one per cent of your body. Therefore a burn measuring just the size of a 50 pence piece or a postage stamp can be very serious for a baby or small child.
- Burns to the hands, face, feet, genitals, airways, or a burn that extends all the way around a limb, are particularly serious.
Never:
- Remove anything that has stuck to a burn
- Touch a burn
- Burst blisters
- Apply any creams, lotions or fats
- Apply tight dressings, tapes or use anything fluffy
Dressing a burn
- A burn should never be dressed until it has been cooled for at least 15 minutes. Covering a burn reduces the risk of infection and reduces pain by covering exposed nerve endings.
- If a child is burnt and the burn is bad enough that you need to dress it, phone an ambulance and continue to cool the burn under running water. The paramedics will assess and dress it.
- Cling film is a good temporary dressing. Ensure the burn is thoroughly cooled before dressing it. Discard the first couple of turns of cling film and place an inner piece loosely over the burn. Plastic bags and sterile non-fluffy dressings also make useful dressings.