Acute Burn Care
Everything needed to successfully treat a burn injury is located within the centre and there is also an outpatients area for children with minor injuries or who have been sent home but may need to return to have their dressings changed. This is also where you would see your consultant after your child has been discharged.
We have our own operating theatre, a high-dependency unit for patients who need constant care from a nurse, an adolescent room where young people can relax and a play room full of toys for our younger children.
There are also two assessment rooms, where injuries are assessed, or dressings are changed. One room contains a special machine called a Laser Doppler. This measures how deeply the burn has penetrated the skin by placing a camera over the burn.
If the injury is more serious, the patient may need to go to theatre for treatment or require PICU.
What to look out for
The following symptoms could suggest a complication with a burn injury. Please call the ward for advice if in doubt.
- A high temperature
- A rash
- Diarrhoea and vomiting
- Very sleepy
- Off food and drink
- Not passing urine.
Caring for the dressing
Dressings are required to protect the burn and help it heal. Please ensure bandages are left in place until you return to hospital for a follow-up appointment. You will need to call the ward if any of the following things happen before your appointment:
- The bandage becomes loose or falls off
- The bandage is too tight
- It becomes wet or fluid from the wound leaks through
- Your child has pain that is not relieved by paracetamol
- The bandage becomes smelly or looks green.
Long-term care
- Burn injuries that take two weeks or more to heal may leave a scar
- At first, the area that has been burned will be red and itchy
- Wash the area and massage with a moisturising cream such as E45 or another unperformed cream
- Remember to always wash the area to help stop the grease from building up before you apply more cream.