Burns and Scalds in Children: First Aid and When to Seek Care

An independent educational resource prepared by Mark M. Simonian, MD, FAAP

Sources checked: August 6, 2026     |     Medical review completed: August 6, 2026

This page is for general education only and does not replace individualized medical advice. This resource does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. For questions about your own child, contact your child's current healthcare professional.

Magnolia Pediatrics, Valley Children's Healthcare

2497 E. Herndon Avenue, Suite 101, Clovis, CA 93611     |     559-538-3070

A burn can be caused by hot liquids, steam, a hot surface, flame, electricity, or chemicals. Cool a simple thermal burn promptly with cool running water, protect the skin, and seek urgent care for deep, large, blistering, electrical, chemical, or smoke-related burns.

Urgent Warning Signs - Check This First

Do not try to judge a serious burn only by pain. Deep burns can have white, charred, leathery, or numb skin. Electrical and chemical burns can cause deeper injury than is visible.

CALL 911 NOW

  • Trouble breathing, coughing, hoarse voice, soot around the mouth or nose, or a child who was in an enclosed fire or smoke-filled space

  • A child is unconscious, confused, having a seizure, in shock, or you believe the burn is life-threatening

  • A large burn, a burn from a major fire or explosion, or a burn involving a suspected electrical current when emergency help is needed

  • For an electrical injury, do not touch the child until the power source is off or the child is safely separated from the current

GET EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE NOW

  • Any electrical or chemical burn, including a burn from a battery, outlet, cord, household cleaner, acid, or alkali

  • Skin that is white, charred, leathery, burned away, numb, or a blistering or swollen burn larger than the child's hand

  • A burn on the face, eyes, hands, feet, genitals, mouth, a major joint, or completely around an arm, leg, finger, or toe

  • A burn with severe pain not improving after cooling, an oozing burn, or a burn with swelling that may interfere with breathing, vision, movement, or circulation

CONTACT YOUR CHILD'S HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL TODAY

  • Any blistering burn, even if small, unless your child's healthcare professional has already given you a home-care plan

  • Redness or pain lasts more than a few hours, the burn looks dirty or is hard to clean, or you have questions about tetanus vaccination

  • The burn becomes more red, swollen, warm, painful, foul-smelling, or develops pus or red streaks

  • Your child has a mouth burn from chewing an electrical cord, a burn from a hair appliance, friction burn, or a recurring safety risk at home

First Aid for a Simple Thermal Burn

  • Stop the heat exposure. Remove hot or smoldering clothing and jewelry unless it is stuck firmly to the skin. Do not pull off clothing stuck to a burn

  • Cool the area with cool running water for about 20 minutes as soon as possible. For a face burn, use a cool wet cloth. Do not use ice

  • Cover with a clean, non-stick dressing or clean cloth. Keep the child warm overall and avoid rubbing the burned skin

  • Do not pop blisters. Do not apply butter, grease, toothpaste, powder, or other home remedies. Use only medicines or ointments recommended by a healthcare professional

  • Give only age- and weight-appropriate pain medicine as directed by the product label or your child's healthcare professional

Chemical Burns

  • Move the child away from the chemical and remove contaminated clothing while protecting yourself. Brush off a dry chemical if present, then flush the skin with plenty of running water

  • For a chemical in the eye, begin flushing immediately with clean lukewarm running water and seek emergency care. Do not delay to search for the product information

  • Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for immediate, product-specific guidance after flushing. Keep the container or product name available

  • Do not try to neutralize a chemical with another substance

Preventing Scalds and Burns

  • Keep hot drinks, soup, and other hot foods away from edges and out of reach. Never carry a child while carrying a hot liquid

  • Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove, use back burners when possible, and keep children out of the cooking area

  • Set the hottest water at the faucet no higher than 120 F (48.9 C), or use scald-prevention devices if the water heater must be set hotter for another reason. Test bath water before placing a child in it

  • Keep hot appliances, candles, fireplaces, grills, space heaters, matches, lighters, and electrical cords away from children. Use outlet covers and inspect damaged cords

  • Install and maintain smoke alarms, make and practice a home fire-escape plan, and keep pool and household chemicals secured

Call Preparation

  • What caused the burn; when it happened; body location and approximate size; whether skin is red, blistered, white, charred, numb, or oozing

  • Any smoke exposure, electrical source, chemical product, medicine or home treatment already used, and the child's symptoms

  • For chemical exposures, the product container, ingredient list, and Poison Control recommendations

Related Guides

  • First Aid for Common Injuries: When to Seek Care

  • Poisoning and Possible Ingestion: What to Do Now

  • Sun Safety and Sunburn in Children: Prevention and When to Seek Care

  • Child Safety Checklist: Infants and Young Children

Sources and Medical Review

  • HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), First Aid for Burns: Parent FAQs: Read source

  • HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), Burn Treatment and Prevention Tips for Families: Read source

  • HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), Burn Symptom Checker: Read source

  • HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), Electric Shock Injuries in Children: Read source

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preventing Waterborne Germs at Home: Read source