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Burns are a common injury in children. Every year, almost 40,000 children are hospitalized because they have been burned and over 1,000 of these children die from their injuries.

The most common burn injury in younger children usually occur after the child accidentally knocks over a cup of coffee, grabs the handle of a pot of boiling water on the stove, or touches a household appliance, such as a curling iron.

There are three types of burns: first-degree, which occur after brief contact with heat and cause redness, pain and some swelling; second-degree, which are more severe and usually result in blisters and intense redness; and third-degree, which are the deepest burns and may be painless due to nerve damage.

Burns are preventable injuries. Steps that you can take to keep your child from getting burned include:

Set the temperature of your hot water heater to 120° F to prevent scalding burns from the bathtub faucet or sink.

Do not leave your child alone in the bathroom or kitchen. There are other obvious dangers in these areas of your home, as well.

Do not carry hot liquids or food near your child and don’t allow your child near stoves, hot barbeque grills, hot ovens, heaters, or other hot appliances.

Use the back burners on the stove and turning pot handles inward.

Place covers on electrical outlets and keeping electrical cords out of reach.

Keep matches, lighters, candles and other flammable items out of your child’s reach.

Install and regularly checking smoke alarms.

Buy flame retardant sleepwear for your child.

Have an escape plan for your family that you practice. This includes teaching your child what to do in case of a fire:

Cover mouth and nose with a moist towel or and article of clothing.

Crawl under the smoke to safety and stay as low to the ground as   
possible

Touch any door to see if it is hot and if it is, do not open it

Avoid elevators and find the nearest stairway marked “Fire Exit” if you
 live in an apartment building

Never stop to take personal belongings

Stop, drop, and roll if an article of clothing catches on fire

If your child gets burned:

Remove clothing from the burned areas unless the clothing is stuck to the skin.

Run cool (but not cold) water over the burn until the pain lessens.

Lightly apply gauze bandages if it is a small first-degree burn.

Seek medical attention if:

Your child has a second- or third-degree burn.

A large area of your child’s body has been burned.

The burn came from a fire, an electrical wire or socket, or it is a chemical burn.

The burn is on the face, scalp, hands, or genitals.

The burned area is swollen, has pus, increased redness or there is red streaking near the wound.