to think that this was handled all wrong? (Hot water burn)

[MosesLee]

Was in a restaurant with my cousin earlier and witnessed a waitress drop a whole mug of hot water (green tea) down a little girl. Of course by accident.

Girl was in agony. Screaming and shaking with a scalded arm. Nobody ran her arm under cold water and they just applied dressings to it.

Someone went over and told them 'you need to run that under cold water for at least 20 minutes before putting any dressings on' - the staff looked as though they ignored her and kept putting dressings on.

I then went over and told them 'she's really right you know you need to get her arm under a cold tap' - I was told no, that the dressings were for burns and a cold tap wouldn't do anything.

Worrying that staff who work with kitchen staff and hot food and water don't know how to treat a burn.

Paramedics turned up eventually and immediately started dousing her in hot water after removing the dressings (very quickly)

Not sure where I'm going with this buy I guess I need to know if IABU in thinking that a burn SHOULD be treated with cold water, and that I wasn't just interfering? They seemed pretty pissed off with me when I went over to suggest this to them. It was with good intent however.

Hope the poor little girl is alright...

I would have thought when they called an ambulance they would have talked them through treatment in the form of cold running water. When I've had to call ambulances in the past they've always ensured we've done anything possible to minimise injury

A bit OT but with the rise of baby groups/parents meeting in coffee shops (I seem to see this a lot) I am often on the edge of my seat seeing people carrying trays of hot drinks literally over the heads of babies/small children. I wish there were 'safe zones' in these places.

That's terrible. The worst thing is, if they didn't know what to do, they should have said. Ignorance is excusable (it's not their fault if employer hasn't sent them on a first aid course). Pretending that you know what you're doing when you have no idea, and ignoring advice from others who do, could be fatal

Will take this opportunity to advertise the British Red Cross First Aid apps. Free to download to iPhone and Android from App Stores or the BRC website. Easy to follow and cover pretty well all the common medical emergencies.

I'm a nurse but never actually had to deal with a burn, I was taught in first year:

Cold water for at least 10 minutes.

Cover with clingfilm or a plastic bag to keep it covered from anything that might get stuck to it or infect it. Don't use any dressings or bandages because they will get stuck to the burn.

The restuarant should of know first aid for a burn as they work with loads of things that can cause a burn, so should her parents. If you have kids you should know basic first aid surely.

You are quite right. I am surprised a restaurant did not have a designated first aid person. 20 mins cool water every time

DS2 has just left his P/T job in a pub chain. He did it while he was doing his nursing degree. I think he was the only one there who knew any first aid. Whenever he was on shift and anything happened it was always him who dealt with it the others didn't have a clue. I actually think First aid should be taught in schools.

I hope the little girl isn't in too much pain today

Basic first aid is taught in primary schools now, so hopefully this kind of incident will become less frequent. What gets me is that even if you don’t know what the correct first aid procedure is, Google is usually readily available and you can find information pretty quickly. This was an awful thing to happen and I hope the little girl is ok.

@Elephant14 not a nurse. I just work in a job that could very easily require me to address a burn or scald and our employer sent us on advanced first aid training. I'm not a medical professional.

Restaurants will usually have 1 appointed first aider to attend to staff only.

There is not obligation to attend to patrons and in fact everywhere I have worked has actively discouraged it due to potential for sueing if administered incorrectly.

It is likely that those attending to the child may not have been trained correctly and/or picked up practices from the kitchen that tend to be more cavalier when it comes to burns. They would also have likely been panicking as dealing with a situation like that is distressing as you have caused it.

Surely the parents should have made sure that correct first aid was given. It is their responsibility. Not the restaurant.

I'm also completely aghast that they didn't know what to do for the girl. I'm sure if k asked my 8 year old, she'd know to put cold water on a burn! It's unbelievable.

Maryllus- what on earth happened to your daughter at camp to make her legs blister like that?!

Sorry- @mamaryllis

I'm surprised 999 operator didn't say cold water immediately. Cold water on a burn is such a basic thing that I'm shocked people think otherwise. Surely someone in a place with hot stoves etc should have first aid training? Also to the poster whose child was at camp there are rules around first aid & events/trips with children.

My 4 year old knew!!! 👍

The 8 year old said "wet paper towel"

Safe to say, they all know now....