What should you put on a burn on a child, and do home remedies work?
Applies to age: 6–36 months
In short
Do not put creams, oils or butter on a burn. A burn covering more than 5% of the body surface is dangerous, and for extensive burns an ambulance is called – 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) or 112 (the emergency number in Poland).
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Do not put creams, oils or butter on a burn.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
do not put any creams, oils or butter on burns or scalds
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- Small burns can often be treated at home, and healing takes about 2 weeks.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Small burns and scalds can often be treated at home and can take around 2 weeks to heal.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
What you can do now
- Run cool (not cold) water over the burned skin for at least 15 minutes.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
polewaj oparzoną skórę chłodną (nie zimną) wodą przez minimum 15 minut
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- Put a sterile or hydrogel dressing on the burned skin.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
załóż na oparzoną skórę jałowy lub hydrożelowy opatrunek
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- Do not pierce blisters.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
nie przekłuwaj pęcherzy
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- Do not tear off clothing that is stuck to the skin.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
nie zrywaj ubrania, które przylega do skóry
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
When to worry
- All burns covering more than 5% of the body surface are dangerous.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Niebezpieczne są wszystkie oparzenia obejmujące powyżej 5% powierzchni ciała.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- A burn that is very large or deep needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
is very large or deep
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A burn on the face, genitals or buttocks needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
is on your face, genitals or bottom
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A burn from an acid, a chemical substance or electricity needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has been caused by an acid or chemical, or by electricity
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- For extensive burns, call an ambulance (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
rozległe oparzenia
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- When someone's life is in danger or you see a sudden accident, call 999 or 112.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Jeśli jest zagrożone czyjeś życie lub widzisz nagły wypadek – dzwoń pod numer 999 lub 112.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- When your child has a burn and you do not know what to do, this needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
you or your child has a burn or scald and you're not sure what to do
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- Outside the opening hours of a primary care (POZ) clinic, medical help is provided by night and holiday health care (nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna, NiŚOZ).
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [3]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.
- NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.