Daughter in hospital - full thickness burns

[Nightmarehairinjury]

Title says it all really. I took dd to have her hair coloured today - and she's ended up in burns ward, with full thickness chemical burn on her forehead and a 50/50 chance of needing a skin graft. WTF??? Can't believe it.

Am in bits.

(have namechanged)

They will tell her all of this in the coming day.
But in terms of pain, it is the donor site that will hurt more, as lack of nerves in graft site, it more just feels “weird” at graft, but it’s not too bad and she will get appropriate pain killers.
She will get great advice with best recovery skincare products/what to do, people get different recommendations from surgeons on what to use or what to do and when to do it so it’s best to follow surgeon vs internet. Silicone products to help scarring may be recommended, I was recommended the gel over the tape, but as above the team will recommend.
But two things will be a given, she will be told at some point to start moisturising the area, she will get a demonstration and leaflet but it’s just a gentle circular movement, I found it best to do this in front of a mirror, I might be an idiot 😆 or it might be from the nerves situation, the first is more likely! but when I did it without a mirror I’d miss the area completely and be in the wrong spot.
and it’s not so much a problem currently with the weather but she will need to use spf and shade (hats) over the graft.

hope she has an fast and uneventful recovery and please try to not take some of these ridiculous posts to heart.

The two things aren’t mutually exclusive it would seem.

There are some utterly batshit comments on this thread. I had to go into hospital many years ago when I was 11 to have my tonsils out. My parents took me and signed consent forms etc but then they had to leave as visiting time was over and I had two sisters at home who needed caring for. I didn’t see them until the day after my operation due to my theatre slot. They then visited for the permitted hour a day until I was discharged.

I’m not in the slightest bit traumatised, the nurses took excellent care of me and there were other children there to talk to plus an enormous play room and tv room. Most of us were quite put out when we did have visitors as it interrupted our plans.

I hope your daughter’s surgery goes well tomorrow @Nightmarehairinjury. You are in no way a bad mum 💐

I am s sorry, this is awful. Poor girl. I do hope she is OK. Thinking of you both. x

The judgement on this thread is horrid.

OP's daughter is 16. She'd had a patch test done. This was an accident. Possibly negligence on the salon but that's unknown for the purposes of this thread there is an injured teen and a worried mum. I don't see what all the nasty judging is meant to achieve.

As for OP not constantly being by her 16 year old's side in hospital, I am sure her DD is in good hands with a relative and nursing staff. I was on an adult ward at 15 for illness, my mum couldn't even come for the short visiting time slots most of the time as she had other kids at home, full time job, commute, zero support network, etc. I was absolutely fine without my mummy constantly holding my hand. No one else was coming at visiting time either in my case.

I can't decide if the vast majority of parents infantalise their teens more these days or if the judginess on this thread is just people enjoying kicking the OP while she's down.

Is there an equivalent to manslauaghter for causing physical harm and damage? If there isn’t there should be. What that hairdresser did was gross negligence and totally unprofessional. She should not be allowed to work as a hairdresser. Any other professional would be suspended and probably struck off if they did similar.

Wow some of these comments. You don't have to answer to anyone OP. You're not a shit mum, you're an amazing Mum. Hope the skin graft went well.

Just waiting for ward round. DD's face has now swollen so much that she can't see. She's scared.

This is awful.

Get practical while you can. It'll also help you stay calm.

Have you taken lots of photos? You'll need to do this through every step of her treatment and recovery to use as evidence of what has happened, to support a legal claim.

Have you got the insurance details from the hairdresser?

Have you looked to see if you have legal cover on your home insurance or similar to get legal support at this stage?

Has the hairdressers informed HSE under RIDDOR yet? If not, speak to HSE yourself. They have a phone line.

I was horrified to hear of your DD's situation. I can only hope her situation improves dramatically. I wish her all the best.

We have lots of photos (benefit of a selfie loving dd - even when she looks terrible). I've been in touch with a friend who is a personal injury solicitor.

Hairdressers is a well known one locally. Owner messaged me yesterday and asked to meet today. I've said no.

How terrifying for you both. Good advice there from @JurassicPark4Eva .

Try and detach a bit from the panic- stick it in a box and think about the practical things, ways to comfort your DD, how to organise looking after yourselves so you can be strong for her. 💐

Wow asking to meet today - they’ve not grasped the seriousness have they! ‘Uh, no, I’m in hospital with my child who is having a skin graft.’

I’m sorry to read so much crap on here from other people OP. Some people are just nuts.

I had burns from hair dye a few years ago, the salon claimed it must have just been my body changing what it can tolerate but I think I realise now they fucked up. I’ve since been to a different hairdresser who foils colour on my hair which is a lot safer. I hope she is ok.

Surely if it was sitting there she would of felt the burn before it went full thickness though, or does it happen very quickly?

Burns can look worse a couple of days after as they do tend to swell as a result of the type of injury and the bodies attempts to make it better.

Speak with the burns nurses looking after your DD. they will have the experience and training to know what is a normal progression for a chemical burn injury and will be better placed to explain this to both you and your daughter. If consultants think she needs it or she needs expert burns plastic care they will refer her to a regional burns centre. At 16 that may be an adults rather than child’s centre to ensure she gets the best outcome for her.

I hope she feels more comfortable soon this must be so terrifying for you all xxx

You absolutely need to report to Police and see a lawyer about suing.

Your poor dd. Sending strength OP. It must be awful to see her so frightened.

The OP said that she has been in touch with a friend who is a personal injury solicitor.

At 16 I would have preferred my auntie to be with me over my mum anyday lol. even now I would. So I agree, I hope your daughter is okay op. I've been dying my hair at home since I was 13 I've never done patch tests and never taken it too seriously. I will definitely now because I bleach it myself too.

I would have thought so ! Maybe she was feeling the heat and maybe didn’t want to say anything she’s only a young girl probs didn’t realise it was actually burning her skin she may have thought it would be ok when she got home it’s hard to know because bleach can feel very hot in the foils !
It’s awful thing to have happened ! Going to get your hair done and that happens I am guessing someone with not a lot of experience done it ! As someone with years off experience I would have checked all over hairline before setting timer but I’d always ask if they felt hot to lemme know !
Op needs to make sure that the salon has insurance or if it’s self employed stylist that they have liability insurance x

She's in recovery. Will be back on ward soon, surgery went as expected. Phew

Glad surgery went well.

Remember to get the information about aftercare (I’m sure you will) and take notes as well. You’ll needing information about future care, costs, expected scarring etc as evidence for any claim you (should) make.

Thank goodness
Hope she recovers well and thanks for keeping us all updated.