Burn Prevention and Treatment
Degrees of Burns A child can receive a burn from hot liquids or objects, fire, electricity, or chemicals. Prolonged exposure to the sun can also cause sunburn. It is common to grade burn injuries according to how deep the burn goes in the skin. First-degree burns: Only the top layer of the skin is damaged. The skin is red, warm, and tender. The surface of the skin is dry and without blisters. This type of burn injury will heal after a few days without leaving a permanent scar on the skin. Most sun burns are first-degree burns. Second-degree burns: The skin has been damaged to a deeper level. The skin will be extremely painful, red or pale, and will have swollen and blistered areas. Healing will often take 14 days or more, and there is a small risk of scarring. Third-degree burns: All layers of the skin have been destroyed. The skin may be white, brown, or blackened and charred. It feels dry, like parchment or leather. There usually is little or no pain at first because the nerves, ...