PARENTAL PERCEPTION AND PRACTICE OF FIRST AID MEASURES FOR BURNS IN CHILDREN

Background: Pediatric burn injuries and their associated wound care procedures are extremely painful evoking a traumatic experience and a range of psychological reactions. Aim: This study aimed to assess parental perception and practice of first aid measures for burns in children under five. Design: Cross-sectional design was utilized. Setting: This study was carried out at Menoufia University Hospital. Sampling: Non-probability convenient sample of 200 parents was included in the sample from February to May 2022. Results: The mean age was 4.5 years and the most affected site was the upper limb (40%), followed by multiple regions (25%). More than half of the studied parents (59%) were aged between 20 and 30 years old and 76.5% of the studied sample was female. Less than half of the studied sample agreed that second-degree burns appear in the form of blisters filled with fluid (48.5%). More than half of the studied parents (57.5%) cooling the burnt area with cold water and the majority of parents agreed to integrate first aid into education. Conclusion: There is a need for delivering teaching programs to enhance the knowledge, and practice level of parents regarding burn and first aid measures. Recommendations: Raising parents' awareness about burn prevention strategies and developing appropriate interventions to reduce burn injuries.