Many people think that burn injuries are rare, but it is actually one of the most common types of child abuse. Burn injuries can be fatal and cause permanent damage to a child’s development. According to the American Burn Association (ABA), “burns are responsible for more than 450,000 emergency room visits each year”. It is important that parents understand how dangerous burns can be so they know what steps to take if their child sustains any type of injury. If you have ever wondered about some common myths surrounding children’s burn foundation, read on!
Myth #1: You need to see or smell something burning before it can cause a burn injury:
False! Sometimes, children’s burn foundation injuries do not result in visible physical damage to the skin, which is why they are often overlooked as an injury that requires hospitalization. The ABA reports that “more than half of all burns reported to state Child Protective Services do not result in visible burn injuries”. This does not mean that the injury is any less severe. In fact, it can be much more harmful to a child’s health because they cannot communicate that something is wrong and they could be left untreated due to their lack of self-awareness.
Myth #2: A child will always let you know that they are in pain:
This is another common myth surrounding children’s burn foundation injuries because parents often get distracted by other things while their child is injured. Sometimes, a child might cry out when they are being burned, but if the parent is not paying close attention or cannot tell what kind of noise the child is making, they might not recognize the child’s distress signal. Also, a child will sometimes try to tough out their pain or pretend that they are not hurt in an effort to please a parent who they think is angry with them. As you can see, this myth is actually quite dangerous because it could put children at risk of serious injury if their parents do not realize that something is wrong.
Myth #3: If you do not know how the injury occurred, then it was an accident:
False! Even if a parent cannot remember what happened to cause their child’s burn, they should always assume that the injury was not an accident. Letting your child play with dangerous items or consuming items that are hazardous to their health is child abuse. If you are having trouble remembering what happened, try interviewing your child or asking them to draw a picture of the event that might help jog your memory.
Myth #4: A burn injury can heal on its own (without medical treatment):
False! This myth could be very dangerous because it is easy for a parent to think that their child will heal on their own after sustaining a burn injury. One common example of this myth is when a parent treats a child’s burn injury with ice instead of taking the child to see a doctor for further treatment. Ice may ease some of the pain but it does not provide any kind of permanent treatment and could lead to infection or permanent scarring. Also, this myth does not apply to all situations. For example, if a child sustains any type of electrical burn injury (like from an outlet), they should see a doctor immediately because electricity has the ability to severely damage internal organs.
Myth #5: A child who is burned will always be in pain:
False! If they are given the proper medical care, they will not be in pain for long. Children’s burn foundation injuries can be greatly reduced by bandaging their injury and administering any necessary medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to reduce pain. Also, if an injured child can get rest and is out of any potential harm’s way, the pain they feel after sustaining a burn injury will be reduced.
Myth #6: Children’s burn foundation injuries are not serious:
False! While it is true that most children’s burn foundation injuries can be treated easily and do not lead to long-term problems, some types of injuries require very specialized medical care. For example, if a child sustains electrical burn injuries they must be taken to see a doctor immediately because electricity has the ability to severely damage internal organs. It is also important to note that some types of burns are very dangerous for young children even when they do not cause any immediate pain or problems. These types of burns include scalding injuries that involve hot liquids or steam and chemical burn injuries. If a child sustains either of these types of injuries, they will not feel any immediate pain but the damage to their skin may cause problems later down the road such as permanently scarring them.
Myth #7: Once a child heals from a burn injury, they will never sustain another one:
False! Even after a child heals from a burn injury they may be at risk of injuring themselves again. One common example of this myth is that once an infant’s burn injuries heal they will no longer be at risk for scalding injuries. If you recall, scalding involves hot liquids or steam, and infants are very vulnerable to this type of burn injury because their skin is so sensitive. A parent may think that when an infant’s burn injuries heal they are no longer in danger for scalding injuries, but the truth of the matter is that infants are still very vulnerable to scalding injuries unless they are properly monitored at all times while they are awake.
Myth #8: If a child sustains a first-degree or second-degree burn injury they must receive medical care:
False! First and second-degree burn injuries should be treated right away, but it is possible for these types of injuries to heal without any medical intervention. It is important for parents to monitor their children’s burn injuries over time (especially first-degree burns) because these injuries can become worse if they are not treated properly over time.
Conclusion:
The dangers of children’s burn foundation are often underestimated. Burns can be fatal and cause permanent damage to a child’s development. This is why it is so important that parents understand the types of burns, how they happen, and what to do if their child sustains any type of injury. Here are 8 common myths about children’s burn foundation debunked by experts from the American Burn Association (ABA). If you have ever been curious about some common misconceptions surrounding this serious issue, read on!
