DD1 burnt leg.What should I do?

[suiledonne]

DD1 stood in front of the fire with bare legs and the skin on one side is hot and bright red. She says it doesn't hurt.

I've put a cool (not icy cold), wet cloth against it and she says it feels fine. She is 4.6

I've warned her a hundred times not to stand there but I was in and out and didn't notice for a few minutes.

It looks dreadful but she doesn't seem in any distress. Apart from being red the skin isn't broken or blistered.

Crap. My car won't start and MIL away for the day.

Help.

[AMumInScotland]

As long as it isn't broken or blistered she doesn't need to see a doctor about it . It would be good to get it into cool water for a few minutes to take the heat out. Then just keep an eye on it - it doesn't need a bandage or anything, unless it gets more tender. If you do end up putting anything over it, make it something dry and not fluffy - an old hankie or pillowcase, and no cream or anything like that.

[systemsaddict]

Phone NHS direct? Keep it cool - keep under cold water.

[suiledonne]

Thanks. It is cooling down and looking a bit better. I gave her paracetamol in case it gets sore.

I haven't put any cream or anything on it.

I feel like crying.

How could she stand there and not feel it burning?

I am starting to wonder if she has a problem with feeling temperature as she literally never feels the cold.
Our house is freezing DD2 and I are in fleeces etc but dd1 can happily skip around in a t-shirt.

[HowsTheSerenity]

Cool running water for ten minutes. Then a cool cloth if that helps.

Do not put any creams etc on it.

You only need to seek medical assistance if it is bigger then a 50p piece and blisters.

The rule of nines is how you measure burns
burn percentages

[suiledonne]

I googled burns and it is a first degree burn. Looks sort of like sunburn. Red and dry with no blisters so not too bad.

We have a spark guard and a full cage guard around the fireplace and are vigilant but not as vigilant as I thought

[Sirzy]

As pp said don't put anything on it. Creams will make it worse. Ideally it needs to be under running water for 10 mins at least but sounds like you did the right things.

Accidents happen and it isn't to bad it seems x

[JellyBelly10]

When I was growing up in the 70s/80s we didn't have central heating, just a gas fire in the living room. My sister and I used to sit SO close to it in Winter and get vivid red down one side, I mean literally crimson on our faces and legs and hands etc on the side closest to the fire. I've actually got a few broken blood-vessels/thread veins on one side of my face that I think were helped by all this! It didn't hurt, and didn't do us any harm...it was the only way to get warm as it seemed like anything beyond a foot from the fire was freezing!! I'm sure she's totally fine.

[nannyro]

As long as it has not blistered or broken then it does not need any medical intervention.

Do NOT put any creams on it. Overnight you could wrap it with clingfilm with a little vaseline over the burn. (we use paranet dressing for minor burns in a+e which is a vaseline coated gauze) Leave it for about 10-12 hours and then leave it open.

She might start to say it feels itchy or painful later but it won't hurt to keep her dosed up on calpol for a couple of days.

[IAmReallyFabNow]

When I did my first aid course I was told medical attention is needed if the burn is the size of a 20p or bigger.

[nannyro]

Yes but not if it is superficial...

sunburn is normally 20p or bigger, that does not require medical attention unless its severe and blistering.

[suiledonne]

Thanks everyone. She is in bed asleep and her leg is almost completely back to normal. Just a tiny red patch left.

I rang my GP's office and spoke to the nurse and she talked me through what to be aware of.

It was definitely very superficial but looked a bit scary to begin with.

I think she has learned a lesson today.