Understanding Burns
A burn injury can be a frightening experience for children, young people and their families. Children's Health Ireland provides specialist burns care and support from the time of injury through treatment, recovery and follow-up care. Every burn is different. The information on this page explains what burns are, how they are assessed and what you can expect during your child's care journey.
Understanding Burn Injuries
A burn injury occurs when the skin comes into contact with heat, hot liquids, flames, chemicals, electricity, friction, radiation or extreme cold. Burns damage the skin and, in more severe cases, the tissues underneath.
Burns are dynamic injuries, which means the depth and severity of the burn may change over the first few days. It can take time for the burns team to fully assess how deeply the skin has been affected and determine the most appropriate treatment plan.
Page contents
On this page you will find information about:
Your Child's Burns Journey
Every child's burn journey is different, but many children follow a similar pathway.
Minor Burns
- Burn injury occurs
- 💧 First aid is administered with cool running water for 20 minutes
- 🚑 Assessment by a GP or Emergency Department
- 🩺 Referral to the PATCH Clinic if required
- 🩹 Regular dressing changes and review
- 🏥 Healing and discharge from burns services
More Severe Burns
- Burn injury occurs
- 💧 Remove from the source and remove jewellery and loose clothing if possible. First aid is administered with cool running water for 20 minutes if possible
- 🚑 Call emergency services if required
- 🩺 Assessment by the Emergency Department and Burns team
- 🏥 Admission to hospital to the burns unit
- 🩹 Ongoing specialist wound care. Surgery or skin grafting where required
- ❤️🩹 Therapy and rehabilitation
- 🏥 Follow-up in clinic until recovery is complete
Throughout your child's treatment, our multidisciplinary team will support your family and provide advice tailored to your child's needs.