Child safety: Focus on burns

Dr Anchen Laubscher, Netcare’s Group Medical Director said that children are always curious and it is important that a close eye is kept on them at all times to ensure they are safe.

On 27 June, the focus was on severe allergic reaction and anaphylactic shock. Today, Dr Laubscher discusses burns that are a leading cause of death and injury to young children in South Africa. It has been estimated that one-fifth of all deaths in children under the age of one year is as a result of burns.

Burns are a common injury that can range in severity from minor discomfort to life-threatening emergencies. The extent to which a burn will heal often depends on the quality of first aid received immediately after the injury. Burns may be caused in a number of different ways, including fire, electricity and chemicals. Hot substances such as boiling water may be especially dangerous for children.

“Serious burns are very painful and can cause disfiguring injuries. People who have been seriously burnt, particularly children, are usually also very traumatised. Many burn victims require months in hospital to assist them in their recovery.

“Many serious child burn victims can be saved today, if they are treated properly and quickly at a specialised paediatric burns unit. For this reason it is important to get anyone who has suffered a severe burn to a hospital as soon as possible. Each burns case is very different as people are burnt in different areas of their bodies and some burns are more serious than others.

“To protect your children, parents should be sure to put all hazardous chemicals, lighters and matches out of reach of their little ones. Never leave youngsters unsupervised around heaters, candles, paraffin lamps or open fires, including braais. Avoid leaving your bar and gas heaters on when going to sleep as they may set fire to bedding or other inflammable materials.

“One of the most common ways children get seriously burnt is when they scald themselves with hot substances. In some cases, youngsters pull hot pots of food or water or a hot beverage on to themselves.

“Parents can take precautions against this. For example, they can keep their children out of the kitchen and as far as possible cook using the back plates of their stove that cannot be reached by children. One should also take care not to drink hot cups of tea and coffee when with a child and also always keep these out of reach of children.”

Emergency services such as Netcare 911 attend to many children who are burnt after falling into hot baths. It is advised that parents rather run the cold water into a bath before the hot to ensure the safety of their little ones.

Some homes have not been properly wired by an electrician and have dangerous electrical cabling lying around, which can cause fires and children to be electrocuted. Get an electrician to wire your home properly and do not do major electrical wiring yourself.

“Whether it’s a minor burn caused, for instance, by a steaming cup of coffee or a more serious burn, the correct first aid can assist to improve the outcome. Avoid underestimating the severity of a burn; rather consult a medical professional,” advised Dr Laubscher.

• What to do if your child gets burnt

“Run cold water over the affected area for as long as the burn is painful in the case of minor to moderate burns. This may help to limit the damage to deeper skin tissues, and is also effective for chemical burns, as the water can help to dilute the harmful substance.

“Call an emergency medical service provider, such as Netcare 911, as soon as it is practical to do so. As each burn is different, give the call operator at the emergency operations centre as much information as possible. This will help them to give you the most appropriate advice and assistance.

“Wrap the victim in a clean sheet and take him/ her to a medical facility or wait for an ambulance, whichever will be quicker and more appropriate in the circumstances. Avoid putting ice on the burn, as this can further damage the tissue. In the case of extensive burns, do not cool with water for too long because this could cause hypothermia.

“Also do not put oily substances, pastes, turmeric, egg white, toothpaste or topical ointments on the burn, or press cotton wool or fluffy material directly onto the burn as this could increase the chance of infection. However, you can use a burn dressing, and this should be covered with a bandage or cling film to prevent infection. Never peel off or open blistered skin, as this could expose the burn victim to infection,” advised Dr Laubscher.

Dr Laubscher provided some general safety tips to keep children safe:

• Only leave the care of your child to responsible adults that you can trust.

• Always make sure that a close eye is kept on your child. Do not let them wander off on their own or be without the supervision of a responsible adult.

• When travelling by motor vehicle, ensure that your baby is buckled up in a safety seat in the back seat, and drive responsibly.

• Learn first aid or at least learn CPR. It could save a life.

• Childproof your home or the place you are staying in by making sure that all dangerous substances and items are out of reach. Make sure that all electrical wiring is safe and swimming pools are sealed off with an SABS-approved safety fence.

• Do not drink too much alcohol if you have children in your care.

• Ensure that you stay with your toddler at all times when they are bathing. Empty the bath immediately once you have finished bathing them.

• Keep a close eye on toddlers when they are using a paddling pool or are playing near any body of water. Paddling pools should be emptied straight after use.