Scald burns from hot water and other liquids are the most common burns in early childhood. Because burns range from mild to life threatening, some can be treated at home, while others need emergency medical care. What to Do If your child is severely burned, call 911 right away. While you wait for help, begin these treatments: Remove clothing from the burned areas, except clothing stuck to the skin. Run cool (not cold) water over the burn until the pain eases. Lightly apply a gauze bandage or a clean, soft cloth or towel. If your child is awake and alert, offer ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain. Do not put any ointments, butter, or other treatments on the burn — these can make it worse. Do not break any blisters that have formed. Get Emergency Medical Care if: The burned area is large (cover the area with a clean, soft cloth or towel). The burns came from a fire, an electrical wire or socket, or chemicals. The burn is on the face, hands, feet, joints, or genitals. The burn looks infected while it is healing. Signs of infection include swelling, pus, or increasing redness or red streaking of the skin near the burn area. Think Prevention! Be careful when using candles, space heaters, and curling irons. Keep children away from radiators. Keep hot drinks out of young children's reach. Check the temperature of bath water before putting a child in the tub. Check smoke alarm batteries at least once a month. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Don't let young children play in the kitchen while someone is cooking. Back to Articles Related Articles Kitchen: Household Safety Checklist Use these checklists to make a safety check of your home, including your kitchen. You should answer "yes" to all of these questions. Read More Fireworks Safety Fireworks safety starts with the manufacturer, but it ends with you! Read these tips on handling fireworks safely and have a blast on the Fourth! Read More Fireworks Safety Before your family celebrates a holiday, make sure everyone knows about fireworks safety. Read More First Aid: Sunburn You can treat mild sunburn at home. But severe sunburn needs medical attention. Here's what to do. Read More Being Safe in the Kitchen Cooking and baking are lots of fun - as long as you stay safe. Read this article for safety tips before you head into the kitchen. Read More Fireworks Safety Fireworks are cool to watch, but it's best to let the professionals set them off. Find out more in this article for kids. Read More A to Z: Burn, First-Degree A first-degree burn is a minor burn that only affects the top layer of skin, or epidermis. It is the mildest of the three types of burns (first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree). Read More A to Z: Burn, Second-Degree A second-degree burn affects the top two layers of skin (the epidermis and dermis). It is more serious than a first-degree burn. Read More A to Z: Burn, Third-Degree Third-degree burns, or full-thickness burns, are the most serious type of burn. They involve all the layers of the skin and underlying tissue and can cause permanent damage. Read More Preventing House Fires Take the time now to review fire safety facts and tips to prevent fires in your home. Read More I Got Blisters From a Sunburn. What Should I Do? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Indoor Tanning Tanning beds are no safer than the sun -- and may be even more dangerous. Read this article to get the details, and to find out what is safe when it comes to getting that golden glow. Read More Tanning The sun can do a lot more than just give you a warm summer glow. Get the facts on sun and skin damage - and what you can do to protect yourself and still look tan. Read More Burns Burns, especially scalds from hot water and liquids, are some of the most common childhood accidents. Minor burns often can be safely treated at home, but more serious burns require medical care. Read More Household Safety: Preventing Burns, Shocks, and Fires Burns are a potential hazard in every home. In fact, burns - especially scalds from hot water and liquids - are some of the most common childhood accidents. Here's how to protect kids from burns. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.