What to do if a child is scalded by boiling water

There are often tragic incidents where children are scalded by boiling water at home. Children are young and ignorant and do not know the danger. Parents sometimes cannot keep an eye on their children all the time. If they are not careful, accidents may happen, which is a headache for the family. However, if a child is scalded, parents must have common sense in this regard and give the child timely treatment to reduce the child's pain. Let's learn about what to do if a child is scalded by boiling water.

1. Once a child is scalded, the injured area should be immediately rinsed and soaked with tap water for about 15 minutes. At the same time, take off the child's clothes in time to minimize the harm of burns. It is worth noting that clothes must not be taken off forcibly to avoid aggravating skin damage. You can cut off the clothes around the burn first.

2. For areas that are difficult to rinse, you can use a cold towel to apply cold compress;

3. Do not apply so-called folk remedies on the wound, such as toothpaste, soy sauce, etc. Doing so will not only affect the doctor's judgment of the condition, but also cause infection of the wound. In short, children should be sent to a specialist hospital for diagnosis and treatment immediately after being scalded to avoid delays and adverse consequences.

4. After a scald, the scalded area should be immersed in clean cold water immediately. The sooner you soak in cold water after a scald, the better the effect will be. The lower the water temperature, the better the effect, but it cannot be lower than -6℃. Soaking in cold water should generally last more than half an hour. This can reduce pain or burns by dissipating heat in time.

5. If the burn is not serious (referring to first-degree burns with redness of the epidermis but no blisters), it can usually be treated at home. Rinse and clean the wound with cold boiled water (or light salt water). For wounds on the limbs and trunk, apply comfrey oil or burn ointment and wrap them with gauze. For mild burns on the head, face, and neck, after cleaning the wound and applying medicine, there is no need to bandage it. This will expose the wound to the air, keep it dry, and speed up its recovery.

6. For various serious burns, especially on the head, face and neck, children should be sent to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible because they may cause shock at any time.

7. If the child has a fever, the local pain worsens, and pus is discharged, it means that the wound has become infected and inflamed, and a doctor should be sought promptly.

The above is an introduction to what to do if a child is scalded by boiling water. On weekdays, parents should place water bottles and all high-temperature objects out of the reach of children and put them higher. Especially when taking a bath, parents must not leave their children's sight. Children are not aware of the danger. After an accident, parents must take their children to the hospital as soon as possible for post-scalding treatment.