I’m a first aider – here’s exactly what all parents should do if your child suffers a burn

THERE is something terrifying about burns.

And as bonfire night approaches, it’s worth knowing how best to help your child if they come into contact with a naked flame.

Around 500 children and their families are affected by burns on Guy Fawkes’ Night each year, charity has said.

Meanwhile, over 550 children under 16 are taken to A&E in the four weeks surrounding bonfire night alone.

A team of experts, who share their tips on their have offered step-by-step advice on how to help your child if they get burnt.

In a video posted on , the healthcare team said that for all serious burns, parents should call an ambulance.

“A serious burn is a burn larger than 3cm and burns that affect the face, genitals or throat,” they said.

For both serious and mild burns, parents are told to run the affected area under “cool” water for 20 minutes.

“Then remove clothing, such as nappies, that aren’t stuck to the burn,” they explained.

“Keep other body parts covered and warm.

“Cover the burn with a non-stick dressing [like clingfilm) until emergency services arrive,” they added.

Preventing burns and scalds

Many severe burns and scalds affect babies and young children.

The NHS says there are a number of things you can do to help reduce the likelihood of your child having a serious accident at home including:

• keeping your child out of the kitchen whenever possible
• testing the temperature of bath water using your elbow before you put your baby or toddler in the bath
• keeping matches, lighters and lit candles out of young children’s sight and reach
• keeping hot drinks well away from young children

Meanwhile, teachers have been warned to watch children when outside after a pupil suffered horrific third-degree burns after touching ‘UK’s most dangerous plant’.

The young tot had been playing in Longsight Park in the Harwood area of Manchester when she touched the hazardous wild flowering plant on Saturday.

She was rushed to A&E – prompting her primary school to issue an urgent warning.

The dangerous plant often grows along hedgerows and looks like cow-parsley, making it even more dangerous to unsuspecting walkers.