Burns and Scalds

Advice following Emergency Department attendance

Download the leaflet

Advice following treatment for a burn or scald:

Your child has been treated for a burn or scald. The length of time it will take to heal depends on the extent of the burn and how deep and where on the body it is.

* When you go home the dressing should ideally NOT be removed until the child attends the department or a re-dressing clinic to have the dressing changed.

– Try not to let the bandages get wet. If they do get wet, return to this department for re-dressing.

– If fluid from the burn is seeping right through the bandages, return to your walk-in-centre or A&E for re-dressing of the burn

– Do not try and re-bandage the burn yourself unless you are trained to do so

What can I do for pain?

Paracetamol for pain should only be required for the first few days after the injury. If your child
has a lot of pain after a few days, return to have the wound checked.

Will it scar?

It is difficult to say accurately whether the burn will leave a scar until it has begun to heal.

Scarring is a normal part of the healing process of wounds and burns that cause disruption of the layers of the skin.

The risk will be less if the dressings are kept clean and as dry as possible and only removed in clinic.

The dressings used are flammable. Care must be taken not to allow the dressing to come into contact with direct sources of heat e.g. cigarettes.

When should I worry about the burn/ what I should look out for?

Toxic Shock Syndrome is a rare illness which can be caused by infection of a burn, even a minor one.

In Toxic Shock Syndrome the child becomes unwell and needs hospital treatment.

You should look out for any of the following in the days after a burn is sustained:

Fever >38 degrees centigrade with no other reason/cause
A Red rash on the body, face arms and legs
Red, cracked lips
Conjunctivitis (sore red eyes)
Significant diarrhoea (loose stools)
Confusion

This leaflet only gives general information. You must always discuss the individual treatment of your child with the appropriate member of staff. Do not rely on this leaflet alone for information about your child’s treatment.

This information can be made available in other languages and formats if requested.