The skin is the body's largest organ. It serves as a protective shield against heat, light, injury, and infection.

Burns are a type of injury caused by thermal, electrical, chemical, or electromagnetic energy. Most burn accidents occur at home.

Chemical burns can occur when strong acids or alkalies come in contact with the skin and/or the eyes.

Burns are classified as first-, second-, or third-degree, depending on how deep and severe they penetrate the skin's surface.

Your child's burn care and emotional recovery will continue when you leave the hospital. Along with the excitement, you and your child may also feel uneasy about what will happen next.

Electrical burns occur when a child comes in contact with electricity, either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC).

Detailed information on emergency treatment of a burn injury

Hot tap water burns cause more deaths and hospitalizations than burns from any other hot liquids.

First-degree burns affect only the epidermis, or outer layer of skin. The burn site is red, painful, and dry, with no blisters. Mild sunburn is an example.

Glossary of terms relating to burns

A heat-induced or thermal burn can occur when the skin comes in contact with any heat source, such as a cooking pan, an iron, a fire, a hot surface, or a hot, scalding liquid.

Detailed information on burns, including anatomy, classification, treatment, and prevention

Your child may come home with unhealed areas that still require dressing changes. You will be instructed on how to change dressings before you leave the hospital.

Agitated behavior such as crying, sleep disturbances and nightmares, and repeated episodes of sadness are signs that your child may be having difficulty coping with stress.

A child who has been burned needs additional calories and protein to help him or her heal and grow.

List of online resources to find additional information on burns

Most children with burns have pain, which can be controlled with medication. They also usually experience itching at some point during the healing process.

Here are safety tips: Periodically, check electrical plugs and cords for dirt or fraying. When cooking with hot oil, keep your child a safe distance from the stove. Teach your child to stay away from lighters and matches.

Most second- and third-degree burns cause scarring. Physical therapists will work with your child to prevent or reduce scarring.

Detailed information for helping your child if he/she has difficulty adjusting following a burn injury

Second-degree burns involve the outer and middle layers of skin. The burn site appears red and blistered, and may be swollen and painful.

Protect your child from the sun. Up to 80 percent of total lifetime sun exposure occurs in the first 18 years of life.

This type of burn destroys the top two layers of skin. Treatment for third-degree burns depends on the amount of body surface area affected.

Detailed information on burns, including anatomy, classification, treatment, and prevention

These are reasons to call your child's doctor: signs of infection, uncontrollable itching, a scar that cracks open or splits.