Burns:

There are three classes of burns: first degree, second degree, and third degree.

• First-degree burns are characterized by redness and pain in the skin.
• Second-degree burns are characterized by blistering of the skin.
• Third-degree burns are characterized by charring or cooking of the tissues.

The vast majority of thermal burns are first or second-degree burns. Care of these burns involves first cooling the tissues as rapidly as possible and preventing infection. If your child sustains a burn, use the following first aid measures:

• Apply ice or cold water as quickly as possible. Keep the affected part in cold water until the pain subsides.
• Do not apply butter or grease.
• Make sure that clothing over the affected area is loose, so as to prevent chafing and rubbing.

If blisters are present, do not puncture them. The fluid within the blisters will reabsorb on its own, unless the blister ruptures. If the blister ruptures, you may use a clean pair of scissors and a pair of tweezers to gently and carefully cut away the roof of the blister. Apply an antibiotic ointment, and keep it covered with a clean bandage. The bandage should not be occlusive. That is, it should allow air to get to the wound.

Burns are most often caused by thermal injury. However, an electrical current can also cause burns. These burns are particularly dangerous, because the electrical current will cook the tissues within the body. That is, the burns are much more serious than appears on the outside.

Burns can be very painful. Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control the discomfort.

Contact your physician's office immediately, or call 911, if you see the following:

• Your child has third-degree burns.
• Your child has suffered an electrical burn.
• Your child has burns over a large area of the body (this applies to any degree of burn).

Contact your physician's office if you see any of the following:

• Signs of infection (drainage of pus, spreading redness, worsening pain).
• Your child's pain is severe enough that it cannot be controlled with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• Your child has a second-degree burn (involving blisters) that extends across a joint.
• You have any other concerns or questions.