“Children being burnt by a naked flame are thankfully relatively rare,” says Joanne Atkins, burns specialist and British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) member.

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However, if the incident does occur (candles catching clothes on fire or children touching an open fire), the priority is to put the fire on the child out. You may need to smother the flames or use water to douse the flames. Once this has been done (and you are in a safe area) follow the same guidelines for how to treat a hot water burn.

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