Every year in China, more than 10 million people suffer from burns and scalds, with children accounting for over 30%. This means that every year, more than 3 million children are burned or scalded.

Even more shocking is that among severely burned or scalded children, 49% suffer disfigurement or disability, with 8% being permanently disabled. An analysis by the Third Hospital of Wuhan shows that scalding is the primary cause of burns and scalds in children, accounting for 88.71%, and the average age of scalded children is only 2.06 years old.

In his speech, Dr. Sun presented a real case: a male infant, just 3 hours old, suffered severe scalds on the left side of his head, face, neck, chest, and hand due to a tipped-over kettle. After multiple surgeries and skin grafts, the child, although saved, lost his left thumb and index finger, with part of the middle finger missing, and was left with indelible scars on his face and chest.

"Such tragedies happen every day," Dr. Sun said.

In his speech, Dr. Sun emphasized a contrasting case: a little girl was scalded on her head and face when a kettle burst. Her family immediately rinsed her with cold water before taking her to the hospital. Because of the timely first aid, the child's skin damage was significantly reduced, and she recovered with almost no scars.

"The mother's simple act of rinsing the child with cold water saved her life," Dr. Sun said.

On the contrary, many parents, in a panic, apply toothpaste, soy sauce, flour, sesame oil, and other "home remedies." These not only do not work but can also worsen the wound, making subsequent treatment extremely difficult.

Dr. Sun repeatedly called out in his speech: after a burn or scald, the first step is not to go to the hospital but to take immediate self-rescue measures.

He detailed the five steps of the scald first aid method "Rinse, Remove, Soak, Cover, Send":

Step 1: Rinse

Immediately rinse the affected area with slow-flowing cold water (15°C-20°C) for more than 30 minutes to quickly reduce the heat damage to the skin.

Step 2: Remove

After thoroughly soaking, carefully remove clothing. You can use scissors to cut open the clothing, leaving any parts stuck to the skin to avoid breaking blisters.

Step 3: Soak

Continue to soak the affected area in 15°C-20°C cold water for 15 minutes. This can help reduce pain and calm the child, but be careful not to let the elderly or young children stay in cold water for too long, as it may lead to hypothermia.

Step 4: Cover

Cover the scalded area with clean gauze or a towel. Do not apply any external medications or "home remedies."

Step 5: Send

For minor burns, you can handle them at home, but for more severe cases, it is best to seek further treatment at a burn center.

⚠️ It is especially important to rinse with cold water for a sufficient amount of time to effectively stop the heat from penetrating deeper into the skin and reduce the severity of the injury.

Dr. Sun introduced that the "National Burn Prevention Education Project" initiated by the China Social Welfare Foundation's Burn Care Public Welfare Fund has already been launched in multiple regions. The 2021 publication, "Stay Away from Scalding Monsters: A Guide for Kindergartens to Teach Children About Burn Prevention," provides systematic support for kindergartens to conduct burn prevention education.

He called for the inclusion of burn and scald prevention education for 0-6-year-old children as a regular part of health and safety education in kindergartens.

"If one child learns first aid, it might protect an entire family," Dr. Sun said.

At the end of his speech, Dr. Sun said something that moved the entire audience: "My dream is to put myself out of a job. I want China to no longer be a 'burn and scald nation,' and for no child to be disfigured or disabled by burns and scalds."

This is not just a slogan, but a commitment that Dr. Sun has been practicing for half his life. From co-founding the Burn Care Public Welfare Fund with Mr. Hu Yajie in 2014 to now traveling across the country to teach kindergarten principals, Dr. Sun Bianyou has always been working towards the goal of "one less, and one more less, burnt child; one more, and one more, happy family."

The path of public welfare needs more people to join in.

If you are a kindergarten teacher or parent, please share this article with more people. Make "Rinse, Remove, Soak, Cover, Send" common knowledge in every family. Perhaps next time, your simple action could change a child's life.