5 Minor Kid Injuries and How to Treat Them

Burn

What to do first: Run cool water over the area for several minutes, then pat dry with a clean towel.

What to do next: To ease the initial pain, apply a cold compress (not an ice cube, which can cause a cold burn on top of a heat burn). Then cover the burn with a sterile bandage. You can also give your child some pediatric ibuprofen. If the burn has blistered or oozes, or if redness or pain persists for more than a few hours, seek medical help.

What not to do: Don’t apply Neosporin or any other greasy ointment; it can trap heat and make the burn worse. And don’t apply butter; this old-school “remedy” can introduce bacteria and cause an infection.