Burns can happen to anyone, but a child’s natural curiosity and unfamiliarity with potential dangers put them at even greater risk. Burns from hot liquids are some of the most common childhood accidents, such as scalds from bath water or a knocking something off the stove.

Burns are categorized by how serious the burn is and how badly the skin is damaged:

• First-degree burn: only the top layer of skin is damaged
• Second-degree burn: the top layer and a few layers below are damaged
• Third-degree burn: all layers of skin and the tissue underneath are damaged

Signs of a first-degree burn include:

• Minor swelling
• Pain
• Redness

Signs a second-degree burn include:

• Blisters
• Redness (bright pink to cherry red)
• Severe pain
• Skin that looks wet

Signs of a third-degree burn include:

• Little or no pain due to nerve damage
• Numbness at the burn site
• Skin that looks dry, waxy, white, leathery, brown, or charred

University of Miami Health System pediatric critical care experts work closely with specialists at the Ryder Trauma Center to provide comprehensive care for children with burns.

Treatments

Cool Water or Compress
Run cool – not cold – water or use a cool compress on the affected area. Do not use ice.

Apply Aloe
Apply aloe gel or another burn cream to the affected area a few times a day.

Over-the-Counter Pain Medication
If needed, you can give your child over-the-counter pain medicine – such as aspirin or ibuprofen – for the pain.

Tests

Physical Exam
Your child’s doctor examines your child to determine the severity (degree) of the burn and develop the best treatment plan.

Why Choose UHealth?

Comprehensive, family-centered care. We offer comprehensive, interdisciplinary care and management of complex medical conditions, as well as the continual involvement of parents and families. Our team spearheaded family-centered care as a standard for pediatric critical care, involving parents and families in our doctors' daily rounds to provide updates on status and progress.

Treating young patients from all over the world. Our critical care specialists have significant experience taking care of a culturally diverse patient population. Children and their families come from all over the world to receive quality care, compassionately delivered by outstanding pediatric specialists and other skilled medical professionals within our facilities.

Top-notch care in an academic health system. Backed by one of the nation’s top universities, our team uses the latest technologies and research-driven expertise to provide your child with superior, personalized care and the best outcomes possible. We’re the only academic health center in South Florida with developmental and behavioral pediatric specialists on staff.

Commitment to research and education. As part of a university-based health system, our critical care team is involved in several clinical trials at any given time. Our department houses a three-year fellowship program in pediatric critical care. Our ongoing involvement in research and training the next generation of pediatric critical care providers allows us to offer the latest innovative, emerging treatments more quickly and safely than other facilities.