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Original poster

how bad will the burn be? herbal tea on 7m old

26 replies

PollyParanoia · 09/05/2007 18:20

My friend was just round with her 7m dd and I made her a cup of herbal tea which was, we thought, out of her daughter's reach (she was sitting on her lap). But she lent right over and managed to spill it onto herself. We got her in a sink of cold water in about five seconds I think (the tea spilt on my friend so she reacted quickly) and the dd was wearing legging type trousers. After about 15 mins in cold running water we put cling film on and she went by taxi to a&e.
While I'm waiting for news can anyone give me any thoughts on how bad it's going to be? The water was recently boiled. The skin on her legs looked red, the colour it goes when they've been crying, but not at all raw and nothing that looked like it was going to blister. It's just that another friend's son was in A&E for a week with a similar accident and is still scarred. I feel so responsible (my house, I made the tea). I was also bloody useless in the crisis.
Polly

OP posts:

Blu · 09/05/2007 18:22

How big was the red patch?

You did the rihghjt thing, anyway, with the cold water.

I really hope it won't be as bad as you fear - it sounds a horrible experience - but of course it wasn't your fault.

WriggleJiggle · 09/05/2007 18:30

DOn't be silly, it wasn't your fault at all. The little girl was sitting on her mums knee wasn't she. Its the type of accident that could happen anywhere.

I hope you hear from them soon.

christywhisty · 09/05/2007 18:35

My daughter burnt her hand when she was 2, but I didn't run her hand under water long enough. I was told I should have done it for at least 10 minutes, so 15 mins should be good. She had to have a skin graft but she blistered straight away.

One of the nurses told me that she accidently spilt hot coffee over her baby, so it can happen to anyone.

Original poster

PollyParanoia · 09/05/2007 18:51

The scary thing is that my friend is the most vigilant and safety-conscious mother I know.
Haven't spoken to them yet but am feeling marginally better as spoke to friend whose son was burnt and he isn't in fact scarred any more. Secondly, his skin was coming off in sheets immediately, which friend's dd wasn't (it didn't look that red tbh.
Oh god, isn't it awful being a parent

OP posts:

fryalot · 09/05/2007 18:55

this happened to ds. He was burnt quite badly, I thought but when we went back to the hospital the next day for his dressings to be changed, there was hardly any red and what there was disappeared within a day or two.

The hospital said that this was ENTIRELY down to us putting him under cold water immediately.

We felt really lucky that there was no lasting damage, and it sounds like you did exactly the right thing. Fingers crossed for your friend's lo

Mum2FunkyDude · 09/05/2007 19:00

You obviously did the right thing, it was an accident, do not blame yourself, rather get in touch with your friend and offer her support, I'm sure she would be devastated, she probably feel a lot worse about being responsible for the accident than you do. Best of luck and let us know if she is fine.

ernest · 09/05/2007 19:09

Similar happened to my ds last year. I'd thought it wasn't toooooooo bad, but it did scar.They gave him a ga to clean and dress it as burns are extremely painful. I was shocked and hadn't realised this would happen. His burns were on 2% of his body (upper arm) luckily not affecting any joioint. They should give a % as this is relevant to the treatment. Were any joints burnt? He was not kept in, but had to go to hospital every day to have the dressing changed. I must say it was a horrible experience, I felt terribly guilty and didn't drink herbal tea for a very long time. He doesn't remember it now. He was 2.5 and always up to something. No point saying don't feel guilty cos you will, just human, it's terrible when a small child is hurt (anyone of course but esp vunerable los)

I wish the little girland your friend all the bestxxx

Original poster

PollyParanoia · 09/05/2007 19:36

Ernest, how quickly did you get cold water onto him? How can they tell whether joint is burnt? Oh god, how awful it is, still haven't heard anything...

OP posts:

Original poster

PollyParanoia · 09/05/2007 21:09

They're staying in for observation tonight and going to a different hospital with burns unit tomorrow. The skin is blistering now, which is amazing as it really didn't look that bad after 15 mins (shows how easy it is to underestimate severity of burns). The hospital's worry is a) dehydration hence keeping in for observation and b) burn on inside of thigh can affect growth of muscle or something.
This sounds appalling, but I'm hoping it's precautionary.
I'm just glad that I packed them off to hospital as was evidently correct response.
Still feel like the person that gives someone a gin-and-tonic before they drink-drive...

OP posts:

Blu · 09/05/2007 23:20

You did all the right things, PP.
As far as i remember, A&E for any burn bigger than a 10p piece.

And remember - accidents are called accidents because they are....accidents.

But it must be very upsetting for you all.

ernest · 10/05/2007 06:51

well, it took a couple of minutes tbh to pull his trousers off and get him in the bath. When I said about it affecting a joint, Imeant if the tea had splashed eg over the knee.

Look, as blu sadi, you did everything right, 15 mins cold water, straight to hospital. Becasue she's so young they're bound to be extra cautious. Of course you feel bad, but that doesn't make it your fault. It's a sad accident but she'll be OK. She really will. I said my ds has scaring, which he does, but he doesn't look terrible, and won't cause him any problems. You did all you could, you really did. she'll be ok

Mum2FunkyDude · 10/05/2007 13:52

any news?

Enid · 10/05/2007 13:54

if it helps, a friend tipped a just made cup of coffee all over dd3 (1) on Sunday

I grabbed dd3, took her trousers off and sat her in a sink of cold water for more than 5, less than 10 minutes

she was absolutely fine

Enid · 10/05/2007 13:55

sorry polly didnt read your last post

hope everything is alright

Original poster

PollyParanoia · 10/05/2007 14:30

Thanks so much for all these thoughts. I spoke to the dad this morning and feel a lot better about it. They most certainly don't hold me in any way responsible, in fact were very grateful (which is kind of them given that I was a bit of a useless flapper). The paediatrician seemed optimistic that there would be no long-term damage but they are being cautious because, as Ernest says, it can affect growth if it's the joint.
Ironically this friend and I did a first aid course together and I kept the notes from it in a kitchen drawer. If I hadn't, I'm not sure I'd have known that you have to keep them under water for so long and the paed said we did absolutely everything right. Accidents do happen, but what you do in the event is within your control so I'm just pleased that between us we minimised the effects.
Kept bursting into tears, post-traumatic thing I think, just witnessing any accident is distressing (let alone being the parent). Obviously recent news events are making us all feel very jittery about protecting our children.
Pol

OP posts:

Mum2FunkyDude · 10/05/2007 14:43

Good, I'm glad its going to be ok.

lucyellensmum · 10/05/2007 14:51

polly, dont feel guilty, these things happen its inevitable almost. BUT you did all the right things, so you should be patting yourself on the back as your actions probably meant the difference between a nasty burn and something that just needs watching. I remember i was at MIL when nephew put his hand on the gas fire and she suggested putting butter on it!!!!! Luckily the mother told her not to be ridiculous and did exactly what you did and all was well, no lasting damage.

ekra · 10/05/2007 15:10

My DD1 had her leg scalded with boiling milk when DH was making her breakfast. She was 22mths.

It was intitially red and then blistered very quickly. It looked bad for a few weeks and I had to go back to the hospital and then to the local practice nurse a few times to have it redressed. But it healed very quickly. She's 4 now and there are no signs of the burn evident.

I hope your friends dd is OK. Don't feel bad about it. I'd never hold the tea or coffee maker responsible for such an unfortunate incident.

PinkTulips · 10/05/2007 15:11

same thing happened to ds a couple of weeks ago and he was fine with cold water and a cold compress for a while, then a couple of drops of lavender oil.

didn't mark at all which was amazing

ernest · 10/05/2007 16:02

of course they don't hold you responsible! It was a terrible accident, and while you feel like you were useless, you clearly weren't - quite the oposite, and have given this little girl the best chance of making a full recovery.

It is traumatic believe me I know, but you can have confidence in knowing you did your very best for her, and did it right.

omg lucyellensmum , butter!!!!!!!!

LilRedWG · 10/05/2007 16:07

Well done on dealing with thie so well PP. It sounds like you reacted exactly right and you should be proud of yourself! Take care.

rowan1971 · 10/05/2007 16:11

Polly - until I read this thread I didn't know any of the sensible first-aid things to do in instances like this (I would have known to put cold water on the burn, but it would not have occurred to me to do it for 15 minutes), so you have performed a very valuable public service.

kittypants · 10/05/2007 16:16

polly,not your fault,you sound like you did good job,we all flap to some point,but you flapped whilst doing right thing!.hope shes ok.

ernest · 11/05/2007 12:14

what's the news? Is she still in hospital?

honeybunny · 11/05/2007 19:27

Do so hope your friend's dd is ok.

Just some info for anyone else in the same situation, dh is a consultant in a famous burns unit.
Speed is the essence,

20mins under running tepid water, shower is good as it can be directed and you neednt douse whole child. Too cold and the blood vessels restrict.

Dont take off their clothes first as a severe scold may lift skin immediately and this increases risk of infection.

Dont put anything on the scold, butter, creams etc until assessed at hospital. Cling film can help reduce infection if the skin is broken, but otherwise keep using cool wet towels next to the skin as this will help on the trip to A+E.

Sounds like you did everything you could PP so dont feel guilty

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