Common questions about burns and scalds
Should I put my child’s burn under cool water or take them straight to the hospital?
It is important to cool the burn as soon as possible, as this helps reduce pain and will limit further burn damage. If your child has a more serious burn, continue running the burn under cool water for 20 minutes before taking your child to the
hospital unless they are too distressed. Try to call an ambulance (000) while you are cooling a severe
burn.
Should I put a burn cream from the pharmacy on my child’s burn?
The most important immediate treatment for most burns is cool, running water for 20 minutes. It is best to avoid putting any creams on moderate or severe burns without advice from a medical professional. Your child's doctor or nurse will recommend
any products that may help their burn.
Do all burns need to be covered?
Mild burns that do not need treatment from a doctor may not need to be covered or ‘dressed,’ but a simple non-stick dressing may make your child more comfortable while they heal. Most burns that need treatment will be covered with dressings –
in many cases, you can keep these on your child for up to a week to help with healing and discomfort.
Can burns get infected?
Skin helps prevent infection. However, burns make the skin weaker, so some may get infected. Thankfully, this is uncommon. It is normal for burns to look red and angry, but this does not mean they are infected. Most burn dressings help protect
against infection while the skin heals. When your child has a healing burn, watch for signs of infection like increasing pain, pus or fever (temperature of 38°C or more) and speak to a doctor if you are worried.
What should I do if my child has a chemical burn?
All chemical burns should be washed out (irrigated) with large amounts of water. If your child burns themselves with chemicals in or near their eyes, wash the area with water or saline solution as much as you can before taking them to the nearest
hospital.
Should I keep my child home from childcare or school when they have a healing burn?
The size and location of your child’s burn will impact their recovery time and when they can return to normal activities. It is safe for your child to go to childcare or school with a healing burn if they are not in too much pain, and you are
confident the educators can help them keep their dressings dry and intact. Your child should avoid sandpits or water play while they still have dressings on.