What to Do About Burns

Burns can range from mild to life-threatening. Some can be treated at home, while others need emergency medical care right away.

When Is a Burn an Emergency?

Call 911 or bring your child to the emergency room right away if a burn:

• is on the face, head, hands, feet, or genitals, or a joint
• covers a large area
• has big blisters
• is white, waxy, leathery, brown, or charred
• goes all the way around a body part
• is due to a fire, an electrical wire or a socket, or a chemical
• happened during a car accident or other serious event

Also get emergency care if your child was burned and has trouble breathing or another injury like a broken bone or head wound.

What Should I Do for a Burn While I Wait for Help?

While you wait for 911 emergency services, start these treatments:

• Remove clothing and jewelry from the burned areas, but not clothing stuck to the skin.
• Run cool (not cold) water over the burn until the pain eases, but not longer than 5 minutes. Or you can soak a clean towel in cool water and put it on the burn.
• Lightly apply a gauze bandage or a clean, soft cloth or towel.
• If your child is awake and alert, offer ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain.
• Do not put any butter, grease, powder, or other home remedies on the burn. These can make it worse.
• Do not break any blisters that have formed.

How Do I Care for a Minor Burn at Home?

With a minor burn, the skin may be red, slightly swollen, or both. There may be little blisters and the burn covers just a small area. A burn isn’t minor if it happens on the face, head, hands, feet, genitals, or a joint. 

To treat a minor burn:

• Remove clothing from the burned areas, but not any clothing stuck to the skin.
• Run room temperature or cool (not cold) water over the burn until the pain eases, but not longer than 5 minutes. Or you can soak a clean towel in cool water and put it on the burn for no more than 30 minutes.
• Lightly apply a gauze bandage or a clean, soft cloth or towel.
• Offer ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain if your child is awake and alert.
• Do not put any butter, grease, powder, or other home remedies on the burn. These can make it worse.
• Do not break any blisters that have formed.

If your child has a minor burn, tell your doctor. Ask if you should apply a moisturizing or antibiotic cream to it. Also ask if your child needs a tetanus vaccine. If kids aren’t up to date, they may need the shot to help prevent tetanus. Schedule a visit within the next few days so the doctor can see how the burn is healing.

Watch for symptoms of infection, like skin around the burn area that’s swollen, has pus, has become redder, or has red streaks. If the burn looks infected, tell your doctor right away.

What Can Help Prevent Burns?

• Keep kids away from candles, space heaters, radiators, and curling irons.
• Put hot drinks out of young children's reach.
• Make sure bathwater isn’t too hot before putting kids in the tub.
• Test smoke alarms once a month and change the batteries once a year.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• Don't let young children play in the kitchen while someone is cooking.