Mum's split second' decision left 14-month-old baby with third degree burns
A mum has shared the horrifying moment her toddler suffered third-degree burns when he grabbed onto a pair of hair straighteners.
In March 2021, mum-of-four Debbie Miller was in her home in Preston, Lancashire preparing her family for the day ahead. But while doing her hair, the 34-year-old said she turned her back "for a split second" - only to find that 14-month-old Billy had grabbed hold of her hair straighteners, which were still turned on.
The mum recalls how Billy did not make a sound for the first few seconds after he was burnt - and said he looked up at her with "his eyes wide."
The toddler had burnt his palm and the back of his hand, and needed months of treatment (Lancs Live/MEN Media)Realising he had burnt his palm and the back of his hand, a stunned Debbie quickly grabbed her son and took him into the bathroom. She told LancashireLive: "We didn't really know the correct First Aid, so we just ran his hand under the cold tap for a few minutes and then wrapped it up, panicked and drove him off to the hospital."
Though she confessed to feeling "panicked", Debbie acted quickly to get Billy to Royal Preston Hospital's A&E Department, which is located not far from their home in the Barton area. But because of the severity and depth of the burns, the family were told he would need to be taken to the Burns and Plastics unit at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Billy had a graft using skin from the upper thigh, which was put onto the top of his hand, and his parents were told he needed to wear a compression glove for two years to reduce skin tightening. He stopped receiving treatment in November 2023, but the youngster is likely to have scars for the foreseeable future and needs to apply factor 50 sun cream on his hand all year round. Although Billy was too young enough to remember the incident, Debbie says the thought of what happened still haunts her to this day.
Billy now needs to apply factor 50 sun cream on his hand all year round (Lancs Live/MEN Media)She said: "When we got back from the hospital, we walked around the house and we just saw the house in a whole different light. Every corner, every edge, every coffee table, the kitchen cupboards - it all became a hazard. Everything changed. I have four boys now and the mum guilt is real on every level. I think it's a real thing and a lot of mums can relate to it."
"But this is just amplified and my main drive for sharing the story. As a mum, all you can do is your best, but the fact Billy had an accident which was totally preventable, that's what is difficult to deal with. I'm living with it and I'm dealing with it. You've just got to learn and grow and that's all you can really do in this situation."
Since the incident, Debbie has completed a number of First Aid courses in order to better understand how to deal with situations like the one she endured in 2021. She is also hoping to raise awareness of the charity Children's Burns Trust (CBT), which helped her after during Billy's recovery.
The latest CBT and Electrical Safety First figures show burns and scalds to children directly from hair straighteners in the first six months of 2023 increased by 20%, compared with the same period the previous year. Hair straighteners can reach temperatures of up to 200C, and stay hot for up to 40 minutes after they've been switched off. Children's skin is usually thinner than skin in adults, meaning burns can be more serious.
Ken Dunn, Consultant Burns and Plastic Surgeon (retired) and Vice Chair of The Children's Burns Trust, whose work is focused on children and their families said: "The increase in hair straightener burns among children is deeply troubling. These injuries are entirely preventable, and it is crucial that parents and caregivers are aware of the risks associated with these devices. Simple steps, such as using heat-resistant pouches and ensuring proper storage, can make a significant difference in protecting our children from these accidents."
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