What should I do if my child gets a burn blister?

Aug 06, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng

Introduction

In general, when a child suffers a burn resulting in blisters, the following measures can be taken: rapidly cooling the affected area, removing clothing, disinfecting, protecting the blisters, and seeking medical attention promptly. Immediately after the burn occurs, the burned area should be rinsed under cool running water for at least 15 to 30 minutes to quickly lower the skin temperature, reduce heat transfer to deeper tissues, and thereby minimize the severity of the burn.

Generally, when a child suffers a burn and develops blisters, the following measures can be taken: rapid cooling, removing clothing, disinfection, blister management, and seeking medical attention promptly. A detailed explanation is as follows:

1. Rapid Cooling

Immediately flush the burned area with cool running water for at least 15 to 30 minutes to rapidly lower the skin temperature and reduce heat transfer to deeper tissues, thus minimizing the severity of the burn.

2. Remove Clothing

Carefully remove clothing around the burned area, avoiding forceful pulling that may worsen skin damage. If the clothing adheres to the skin, it can be temporarily left in place and handled by a doctor upon seeking medical care, to prevent secondary injury from forcibly removing the clothing.

3. Disinfection

Rinse and disinfect the burned area and surrounding skin with normal saline, then gently pat dry using sterile gauze. This helps prevent wound infection and creates a clean environment for subsequent treatment.

4. Blister Management

For small blisters, special treatment is usually unnecessary. Keep the blister intact and cover it with sterile gauze to avoid friction. If the blister is large, under strictly sterile conditions, a doctor may use a syringe to drain the blister fluid while preserving the blister skin to protect the wound surface.

5. Seek Medical Attention Promptly

After completing the above initial treatment, the child should be taken to the hospital's burn unit as soon as possible. A professional physician will assess and treat the burn based on its severity and size, including applying burn ointment, dressing the wound, and preventing infection, thereby avoiding complications such as infection.

In daily life, reduce the child's exposure to hot water, hot oil, etc. Do not puncture the blisters yourself after they form. Keep the wound clean and change the dressing regularly.

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