Burn Treatment
Easing a child’s pain
A severe burn can cause excruciating pain. Acute burns damage more than just the top layers of skin; they affect the nerve endings under the skin as well, causing extreme discomfort. At Shriners Hospitals for Children ® – Boston, our team of specialists delivers compassionate care and treatment that carefully address pain management to improve comfort levels for our young patients.
Whether a child is experiencing pain from a burn injury, other trauma, or as a result of surgery, we aim to reduce pain as much as possible using a pain scale made especially for children to determine the accurate level of their discomfort and treat accordingly.
Learning at Shriners-Boston
Children who arrive at Shriners-Boston with severe injuries may stay for weeks, or even months, while they recover and gain strength. Since our young patients are often far away from friends and recognizable community, the staff at Shriners-Boston steps in to fill this void by offering a sense of community within the hospital, with opportunities to play, learn, and socialize as the child is able.
Trial By Fire: Lives Re-Forged
A documentary film that captures the spirit and capacity for life of burn survivors
Surviving an extensive burn is a life-changing event that can leave mental scars as deep as the physical. But the life of a burn survivor is more than skin deep. Filmmaker Megan Smith-Harris’ documentary, Trial By Fire: Lives Re-Forged reminds us of this fact.
How do you know when your child’s burn needs medical treatment?
Burns and scalds are scary occurrences that happen all too often. Most burn injuries, 80 percent in fact, occur right at home. Among children under the age of four who were treated at the hospital for burns, 65 percent received treatment for scald-related burns. A common cause for these burns is hot food or water spilled in the kitchen.
During warmer weather, we spend more time outside, enjoying activities like barbecues and camping. But these activities also present opportunities for burns, such as when a child’s skin or clothing comes in contact with an open flame by standing near a charcoal grill or fire pit, for instance.
Other common causes of burns include:
· Scalds from a hot liquid – the thicker the liquid and the longer the contact with skin the greater the damage.
· Steam burns, such as those that occur in industrial accidents or from automobile radiator accidents; steam burns often cause injury to the airways of the lungs as well.
· Contact with a hot object, such as a cigarette, iron, curling iron, etc.
· Burns from inhalation of hot smoke from flames
· Electrical burns, including lightning
· Flash burns from rapid ignition of a flammable gas or liquid
· Tar burns
· Chemical burns from alkaline or acidic substances
February 5-11 Is Burn Awareness Week: Be burn-aware
Burn Awareness Week is the kick-off to a year-long educational campaign from Shriners Hospitals for Children®. The 2012 “Be Burn Aware” campaign focuses on teaching children safety tips that will help keep them safe from burn injuries, especially at home.
Most burn injuries, 80 percent in fact, occur right at home. Among children under the age of 4 who were treated at the hospital for burns, 65 percent received treatment for scald-related burns. The likely culprit is hot food or water spilled in the kitchen.
Burns and scalds are scary occurrences that happen all too often. Practicing safety measures at home is the best way to avoid an accident. Starting February 5 through 11, be “burn aware” for National Burn Awareness Week. Prevent burns and scalds by following our Be Burn Aware Tip Sheet, a useful resource to share with colleagues, neighbors and friends.