Burns: Caring for Your Child’s Burn at Home AfterDischarge From the HospitalComing home from the hospital is a happy time.It means your child is getting better. At home,you will have to take care of your child and helpyour child’s burn injury heal.

Most families find that it takes some time to getinto a routine. Here are some tips:

Ask for help from other family members.Include your child's treatment into yourregular family life. Do not centre family lifeon the treatment.At first, some children need more naps,demand more attention, or have nightmares.If this happens, be calm and understanding.These problems will go away with time.Try to set aside a few private minutes foryourself each day.

Follow-up clinicYour child will have to go to a follow-up clinic.The doctors and nurses will check how yourchild’s burn is healing. They will also ask howyour family is doing now that you are at home.

Write down the date, time, and place of yourfollow-up visit here:

Caring for your child's healing skinHere are some tips to help you care for yourchild's healing skin.

WashingIt is very important to keep the new skin clean.Clean your bathtub as you normally would. Besure to wash your own hands before caring foryour child's skin.

Bathe your child, including the healed skin, in awarm soapy bath or shower once a day. You canuse regular soap. Pat the skin dry; do not rub it.

If your child still has open wounds, they shouldnot bathe with other people.

Skin creamsThe longer the burn injury took to heal, the morechance there will be scars. You cannot stop scarsfrom forming, but you can help minimize theappearance of burn scars with proper skin careand regular massage with a good skin cream. Besure to use a cream without perfumes.

Apply the cream and massage firmly and evenlyover the areas using your fingertips. Continueuntil all the cream is absorbed into the skin. Thisshould take about 5 minutes. Many children findthis treatment soothing. It usually relieves theitchiness.

Caring for Healing Skin

Applying skin cream with gentle massage helpsnew skin from a burn injury to heal with lessscarring. Massage the cream in gentle circles,pressing just firm enough so that the scar turnswhite under your fingertips.

Some children find their new skin to be verysensitive to touch. It is very important that youkeep touching it. The more the area is touched,the less sensitive it will be.

ItchinessHealed skin can be itchy. Extra baths and skincream may help make skin less itchy. Somechildren may also need to take medicine for ashort time to reduce itchiness. Your doctor ornurse will advise you on how to manage theitch.

Keep your child's nails short and clean to helpprevent scratching or infection.

Open skin

If there are small open wounds, cover them withsome vaseline petroleum jelly and a light gauzedressing after cleaning with soap and water inthe bath. If the dressing sticks, you can removeit gently by soaking in the next bath. After thebath, you will need to put on a new dressingwith ointment and gauze. If you have anyquestions, call the burn unit where your childwas treated.

Heat, cold, and sunlightProtect your child's newly healed skin from heatand cold as it can be hyper-sensitive. The skinwill also burn easily. Keep your child out ofdirect sunlight and apply a waterproof sun blockwith a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least30.

Your child should also wear light-coloured clothing over the burned area. If newskin is exposed to sunlight, it will darken evenlyand this colour will be permanent.

In very cold weather, dress your child warmly.

Blisters and soresSometimes, healed skin can blister or smallsores may appear. This may happen during thefirst few months whenever the skin is bumped orscratched. This is normal, so try not todiscourage usual play and activity. Blisters willheal quickly when treated in the same way asopen skin areas. Over time, the new skin healsand becomes stronger.

Pressure garments

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Pressure garments do not filter out sunlight. Sunblock must be worn under the garments, and long-sleeved light clothing over top.

If your child needs pressure garments:

Garments must be worn 24 hours a day andtaken off only for bathing.Garments do not filter out sunlight. Yourchild must still use a sun block under thegarments.Change the garments after each bath. Washthem in warm soapy water and dry them flat.Do not put pressure garments in the dryer ornear a radiator, as this may damage thematerial.

ActivityParents often worry about their child's safetyafter the burn. However, your child can do allthe activities that they are used to doing, unlessyour child's doctor, nurse, or physiotherapist hastold you something else. If you have questionscall the burn unit where your child was treated.

Eating and drinking

Foods High in Protein and Energy

Good nutrition will help your child’s burn heal.However, the return home may cause somechildren to become fussy about eating. Theymay have less appetite or even lose a littleweight in the first few weeks. This problem doesnot last and will go away by itself. Serve yourchild foods that are high in protein and energy.Good examples are meats, eggs, yogurts, cheese,and pasta.

OutingsGetting out and meeting other people isimportant for your child's emotional health. Ifyour child has visible scarring, some people mayreact when they first see the scar. This responseis normal and will become easier for you, yourchild, and your family to understand and accept.Some people may ask awkward questions. Youmay find it helpful to prepare a truthful answerahead of time.

Return to schoolDepending on the extent and visibility of theburn injury, your child may find returning to

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school difficult. School has a strong influenceon a child’s normal behavior and socialadjustment. Talk to your Burn tTeam to discussa school re-entry visit to support your child'sreturn to school.

Getting helpQuestions will arise as you adjust to your newroutines. Here are three ways to find answers:

Call the burn unit where your child wastreated, or your plastic surgeon. Someone isalways available.Bring your questions with you to the clinic.Write them down before you go so you donot forget any questions when you arrive.Contact your family physician for healthconcerns that are not related to the burninjury.

Write down helpful names and numbers here:

Key pointsKeep your child’s skin clean and replacegauze dressings.Protect your child’s skin from heat, cold, andsunlight.Be sure to follow the instructions on how toclean and wear pressure garments.Serve your child foods that are high inprotein and energy.Your child can do all the activities they didbefore the injury.Make sure you go back to the hospital foryour child’s follow-up appointment.

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