What to do if a child in your care has a burn?

Pancake Day is a firm favourite for little ones helping out in the kitchen at home. But while parents and carers do their best to keep them safe, hot pans can still pose a real hazard. Why not share our handy first aid tips with the parents and carers in your setting, so they have the skills and confidence to respond if a child is burned?

If a baby or child in your setting has suffered a burn:

1. Cool the burn under cold running water for at least 20 minutes.

Cooling the burn will reduce pain, swelling and the risk of scarring. The sooner and longer a burn is cooled with cold running water, the less the impact of the injury

2. After the burn has been cooled, cover it with cling film or a clean plastic bag.

This helps prevent infection by keeping the area clean. Cling film or plastic won’t stick to the burn and will reduce pain by keeping air from the skin’s surface.

3. Call 999 if necessary.

If you can't call 999 get someone else to do it. The burn may need urgent medical treatment. Always seek medical advice for a baby or child who has been burned.

British Red Cross First Aid App

Why not make 2026 the year you brush up on your first aid skills? Share our free app with your team and families, so you will always know what to do in case of an emergency.

Our free first aid app covers more than 20 first aid skills. Using a simple and easy-to-learn approach, the app is suitable for anyone looking to learn first aid and gain the confidence to help others in an emergency.

You can download the app here!

Don't forget, as a Morton Michel policyholder you can get a 10% discount on the British Red Cross's paediatric first aid courses through our exclusive ChildCare Club. Find out more here.

Please note, the information in this article is provided by the British Red Cross and does not represent the views or opinions of Morton Michel.