A MUM has revealed how her baby girl suffered second and third-degree after pouring boiling water over herself.
Haleigh Tubbs, 23, was preparing macaroni and cheese for her family when her daughter, Brooklyn, tipped over the scalding pasta pan.
The boiling water left the one-year old with second and third-degree burns on 22 per cent of her body, which was “red, raw, and bleeding,” the mum said.
Third-degree burns are the most serious types of burns and require immediate medical attention.
Typically, they will damage all three layers of skin and can be life-threatening.
“To this day, I have flashbacks of the accident,” Haleigh, from New Mexico, US said.
“I’m so grateful that my baby survived.”
In December last year, the mum cooked dinner while Brooklyn played in the next room.
Recalling the event, she said: “I turned around to get the pasta strainer, but as I did, Brooklyn suddenly ran up to the stove and pulled the pan of boiling water on top of her.
“She screamed and I raced to her and removed her onesie.
“Her neck and chest were red raw and bleeding.”
The mum wrapped Brooklyn in a blanket and rushed her to San Juan Regional Medical Center.
“Her skin started to peel and she was crying in pain,” Haleigh said.
At the hospital, medics dressed Brooklyn’s burns before airlifting them both to Denver Children’s Hospital.
The baby had suffered second and third-degree burns on 22 per cent of her body, including her face, chest, arms and stomach.
She said: “Luckily, the boiling water narrowly missed Brooklyn’s eyes.
“But her lips were badly burnt, so doctors gave her a feeding tube to help her eat.
“She’s usually such a lively little girl, I hated seeing her suffer.”
Over the next week, medics controlled Brooklyn’s pain with medication and tried to keep her comfortable.
I was so worried that she wouldn’t return to her cheeky self.
Haleigh Tubbs
She then underwent a four-hour skin graft surgery, where donor skin from her left thigh was placed onto her chest.
After spending over two weeks in hospital, Brooklyn was discharged two days before Christmas.
Haleigh said: “I was so worried that she wouldn’t return to her cheeky self.
“But as soon as we left the hospital, she started smiling and laughing.”
On Christmas Day, Brooklyn was still in pain, but managed to enjoy opening some of her toys.
“She was mainly bed-ridden for the first two weeks, but she soon started walking and running around again,” the mum said.
Now, Haleigh takes Brooklyn to Denver once a week for doctors to assess her progress.
She wears compression garments 24/7, and Haleigh moisturises her wounds four times a day.
Brooklyn also has to stretch her arms three to four times a day so she doesn’t suffer mobility problems in the future.
Haleigh is now extra careful when cooking or around her little one.
“If I’m home alone with Brooklyn, I will always put her in her highchair, away from boiling water or any other potential danger,” she explained.
How to treat burns and scalds
BURNS and scalds are damage to the skin caused by heat.
A burn is caused by dry heat (e.g. an iron or fire), while a scald is caused by something wet (e.g. hot water or steam). Both are treated in the same way.
They can be very painful and may cause redness, peeling skin, swelling, white or charred skin.
To treat a burn, the person should be kept away from the heat source, their skin should be cooled, and any clothing or jewellery near the affected area should be removed.
The patient must also be kept warm, the burn wrapped in clingfilm, and painkillers can be given if needed.
In short, the NHS advises:
COOL
Let the area cool for 20 minutes under cool running water.
CALL
Dial 999, 111 or your GP for advice, depending on the severity of the wound.
COVER
Cover the burn loosely with clingfilm.
Source: NHS
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
