Question

A mother of a 9-year-old child calls the emergency department and tells the nurse that her child received a minor burn on the hand after accidentally touching a grill during a family cookout. The mother asks the nurse for advice on how to treat the burn. The nurse tells the mother to immediately:

a) Apply ice directly to the burn.

b) Submerge the burn in cold water.

c) Apply butter or oil to the burn.

d) Cover the burn with a clean, dry cloth.

Answer 1

The nurse should advise the mother to submerge her child's burned hand in cold water to cool the area, reduce pain and swelling, and prevent further damage to the skin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct advice for treating a minor burn is to submerge the burn in cold water. Applying ice directly to the burn might cause further damage to the skin tissue. Putting butter or oil on the burn is an outdated home remedy and not recommended, as these can trap heat and lead to infection. Covering the burn with a clean, dry cloth is something one might do after the burn has been cooled down, but it is not the first action to take. Soaking the burn in cold water will help to cool the area, reduce swelling and pain, and prevent further damage to the skin.