Emergency & Urgent Care
Burns & Scalds
Burns in babies are emergencies due to thin skin. Types: thermal (hot liquids, stove), chemical (cleaning products), electrical (outlets), sunburn.
1st degree: red, painful (like mild sunburn). 2nd degree: blisters, very painful, red/white. 3rd degree: white/black, may not hurt (nerve damage).
Babies can get severe burns from bath water >120°F or hot liquids spilled on them.
What to Do
- For thermal burn: Remove from heat source immediately
- Cool burn under cool (not ice cold) running water for 10-20 minutes
- Remove clothing/jewelry near burn (unless stuck to skin - leave it)
- Cover burn loosely with sterile gauze or clean cloth
- DO NOT apply ice, butter, ointments, or home remedies
- DO NOT break blisters - keep them intact
- For chemical burn: Flush with water for 20+ minutes while calling poison control
- For electrical burn: Make sure power source is off, call 911 immediately
- Give pain medication (acetaminophen/ibuprofen) only if doctor approves
- Watch for signs of infection: increased redness, swelling, pus, fever
- Prevent burns: Set water heater <120°F, turn pot handles inward, keep hot drinks out of reach
When to call a doctor
Go to ER immediately for: burns larger than baby's palm, burns on face/hands/feet/genitals, 2nd or 3rd degree burns (blisters or white/black skin), electrical burns, chemical burns, or baby under 1 year with any significant burn.