For minor burns, run cool (not cold) water over the area for 10 to 20 minutes. Don't use ice, butter, or toothpaste. Cover with a sterile bandage. For burns bigger than your child's palm, blistering burns, or burns on the face, hands, or genitals, go to the ER.
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Protecting kids from scalds, contact burns, and fire. Set your water heater to 120 degrees F or lower, keep hot drinks away from table edges, and use stove knob covers. Burns happen fast and young skin is thinner than adult skin, so they burn at lower temperatures.
A baby-specific first aid kit should include adhesive bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes, infant acetaminophen, a digital thermometer, saline drops, tweezers, and the Poison Control number. Keep one at home and one in the car. Check expiration dates every 6 months.
Hot liquids cause more burn injuries in young children than any other source. A cup of coffee can burn a child's skin in seconds. Keep hot drinks out of reach, test bath water with your elbow, and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.