Children love fireworks, but fireworks and children are a dangerous mix that sometimes results in severe burns. In 2004, 12 patients were admitted to the hospital for burns or other fireworks-related injuries.

“Burn care is important, as some burns can require long-term treatment,” says Christi Cassidy, a burn tech at the Burn Unit at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, Mo. “If not treated correctly and in a timely manner, infection can occur and unnecessary scarring can result.”

Any burn bigger than the palm of the person’s hand should been seen by a medical professional immediately.

Following is a list of how you should treat a minor burn:

¢ Run cool water (not cold water) over the wound for about 10 minutes. This will remove the heat from the wound.

¢ Do not put ice on a wound.

¢ After rinsing, wrap the burn in a clean towel and see a physician.

¢ If the wound is smaller than the palm of the person’s palm once cooled, clean the wound with soap and water only.

¢ Apply an antibiotic ointment and keep wrapped and clean.

¢ For best results, clean the wound twice a day, removing the dead skin and applying ointment each time.

Burns usually heal within a week or two. More severe burns can take a month or longer to heal. It is extremely dangerous, even deadly, to neglect a severe burn. Infection can set in quickly.