BURNING ISSUE
The surprising thing you must do immediately if your baby is splashed with hot water – or risk serious injury
THOUSANDS of children are rushed to hospital with burns and scalds every year in the UK.
While no parent wants to have to think about their youngster being one of them, it's vital to know what to do if it does happen, according to a former paramedic.
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Nikki Jurcutz, who runs the parent first aid website , said this is particularly crucial for tots not yet toilet trained.
She said on Instagram: "Does your little one wear nappies? Then you need to know this."
The mum, from Melbourne, Australia, explained that first on every parent's to-do list after a baby is splashed with hot water is getting them undressed.
She said: "If your bub sustains a burn, one of the first things you'll need to do is remove any items of clothing or jewellery that aren't stuck from the burn site. This is where nappies come in.
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"Nappies are designed to absorb and hold water.
"So if your child who wears nappies accidentally pours a cup of boiling water down their chest into their nappy, the nappy will do exactly that: absorb and hold the boiling water.
"So you need to get that nappy off ASAP."
Nikki urged mums and dads not to be afraid to "rip it off" if they need to, as time is of the essence.
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And if it's stuck, she said it's as simple as filling it with cool, running water which simultaneously cools the burn and removes the heat from the nappy.
"Your priority right now is cooling the burn, waiting for the ambulance, comforting your child and removing items that aren't stuck, with nappies being one of the first things I want you to reach for to remove that hot water from the genital area," the ex-emergency worker added.
"Burn first aid is so so important."
Burns are the fourth most common type of trauma worldwide.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 180,000 deaths are caused by burns every year.
In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) reckons around 250,000 people receive burns annually, with 175,000 attending A&E and 16,000 admitted for specialist care.
Separate data suggests around 25,000 kids in England and Wales attend A&E each year with a burn or scald.
Burns are the 11th most common cause of death in children aged one to nine, and the fifth most common cause of non-fatal childhood injuries.
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The most common culprits are hot drinks, saucepans, power cords, hobs, oven doors, hair straighteners and curling tongs, hot baths, open fires, BBQs and bonfires, according to the NHS.
The Children’s Burns Trust found that over 10,000 babies and toddlers are burnt by a hot drink every year – or 30 a day.
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How to treat burns and scalds
BURNS and scalds are damage to the skin caused by heat.
A burn is caused by dry heat (e.g. an iron or fire), while a scald is caused by something wet (e.g. hot water or steam). Both are treated in the same way.
They can be very painful and may cause redness, peeling skin, swelling, white or charred skin.
To treat a burn, the person should be kept away from the heat source, their skin should be cooled, and any clothing or jewellery near the affected area should be removed.
The patient must also be kept warm, the burn wrapped in clingfilm, and painkillers can be given if needed.
In short, the NHS advises:
COOL
Let the area cool for 20 minutes under cool running water.
CALL
Dial 999, 111 or your GP for advice, depending on the severity of the wound.
COVER
Cover the burn loosely with clingfilm.
Source: NHS
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