Body Watch : TIDBITS : How to Reduce the Risk of Burns for Your Kids
- Share via
Childhood burns from household accidents all too often require a trip to the emergency room. Parents can drastically reduce the risk by taking small precautions:
* Unplug curling irons and clothing irons, both common sources of third-degree burns in children.
* Check buckles on car seat belts during warm weather.
* Don’t let children sit on kitchen counters while you are cooking.
If burns occur despite precautions, know first aid do’s and don’ts:
* Don’t apply first-aid creams, butter or toothpaste.
* Don’t break blisters.
* Do submerge a clean wash cloth or dish towel in cool water and apply it as a compress to the area. Change the compress every three to five minutes until the pain subsides.
* Do seek medical attention for large burns, burns that blister or any burns on the face or hands.
Sources: Beth Winokur, registered nurse and department manager, Grossman Burn Center at Martin Luther Hospital, Anaheim; “The American Medical Assn. Encyclopedia of Medicine,” (Dorling Kindersley Limited and AMA, 1989).
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
