At Mini First Aid, we know that family life can be a whirlwind - juggling dinner, homework, and the endless “Muuum!” moments that fill our days. But every now and then, something happens that reminds us just how important it is to know what to do in an emergency.
It’s Burns Awareness Day on 15th October so we’re recapping on a must-listen episode of our Family Health podcast. In this episode, we spoke with Michelle Whalley, an ambassador for the Children’s Burns Trust, whose little boy Charlie suffered a life-changing burn injury at just 15 months old. We were also joined by Sue Boasman, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and ambassador for the same charity, to share expert advice on burn first aid and recovery.
This is a story that will stay with you - not because it’s scary, but because it’s full of hope, courage, and the incredible power of a mum’s love.
“It all happened in seconds”
Michelle remembers the night of the accident vividly. “We were due to go on holiday that night,” she says. “Like any busy mum, I was trying to pack, cook tea, and get the kids ready - all at the same time.”
Her youngest, Charlie, had just come home from nursery feeling a bit under the weather. Michelle popped a pan of vegetables on the hob while checking his new antibiotics - and in those few moments, everything changed.
“I heard the most terrifying scream,” Michelle recalls. “It was a sound I’d never heard before. When I ran back into the kitchen, Charlie was on the floor, surrounded by boiling water and vegetables. He’d pulled the pan handle and the contents had spilled over him.”
Charlie was just 15 months old.
When instinct takes over
Michelle’s reaction was immediate - and incredibly brave. “I knew I had to cool the burn,” she says. “But I didn’t know what was right or wrong. I’d never had any first aid training.”
She took Charlie’s clothes off as gently as she could, placed him in the bath, and ran cool water over the burns while trying to call 999. “It was chaos - Charlie was screaming, I was crying - but I just knew I had to get help.”
Sue, who works in a regional burns unit, says Michelle’s quick thinking made all the difference. “That instinct to cool the burn immediately is exactly right,” she explains. “We recommend 20 minutes of cool running water. It can make a huge difference to how well the skin heals.”
But as Sue adds, “It’s not easy when your child is hurt. Parents do their best in a moment of panic, and that’s okay. You just need to act - cool the burn, call for help, and try not to panic.”
The long road to recovery
Charlie was taken first to his local hospital, then transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, home to a specialist burns unit. His burns covered 15% of his body - from his chin down to his torso and right arm.
Michelle remembers the relief when they arrived in Manchester: “It was midnight, but it was calm. The team knew exactly what to do. That’s when I finally thought, he’s going to be okay.”
In the days that followed, Charlie underwent specialist treatment - daily dressing changes, pain management, and eventually a skin graft using skin from his thigh. “The process was heartbreaking,” says Michelle. “But the nurses and doctors were incredible.”
Sue explains why skin grafts are sometimes necessary. “If a burn goes through all the layers of the skin, it can’t heal by itself. We take a very thin layer of healthy skin from another area to cover the wound and protect against infection.”
It’s tough to hear, but this level of care is what helps children like Charlie recover and thrive.
Finding
strength through play and love
Throughout Charlie’s treatment, Michelle never left his side. “He couldn’t have soft toys because of the infection risk, so we had to get creative,” she says with a smile. “We used cleanable toys and even bedpans as hats! I sang, I danced - anything to make him smile.”
Sue says that comfort and play are vital to recovery. “Children heal better when they feel safe and loved. That’s where parents, play specialists, and nurses all come together as a team.”
Even now, Michelle is amazed at Charlie’s resilience. “He wore pressure garments for two years and had therapy for nine,” she says. “We had so many hospital visits, but we also had a lot of fun along the way. We just got on with life.”
Life after a burn injury
Today, Charlie is thriving. “He’s 15 now, six foot one, plays football for Preston North End Academy, and is doing brilliantly at school,” Michelle beams. “His scar will always be part of him, but it doesn’t define him.”
Michelle’s story is one of hope - something she now shares as part of her work with the Children’s Burns Trust. “There is life after a burn injury,” she says. “Children are so resilient. If this ever happens to you, don’t lose hope. Things do get better.”
Burn first aid: what every parent should remember
Sue shared her top tips for burn first aid every parent should know:
- Cool the burn immediately - Use cool running water for at least 20 minutes.
- Remove clothing and jewellery - Only if it’s not stuck to the skin.
- Cover the burn - Use cling film or a clean, non-fluffy cloth to protect it.
- Seek medical help - Always for babies, children, or large/deep burns.
- Never use creams, butter or toothpaste - They can make things worse.
Sue adds, “Accidents do happen - even to the most careful parents. What matters is knowing what to do next.”
A final word of reassurance
Michelle’s honesty and strength are an incredible reminder that accidents can happen to any of us - and that knowing children’s burn first aid can truly make a difference.
As Michelle puts it, “I can’t change what happened, but I can help other parents avoid it - or at least be prepared if it does.”
If you’d like to learn what to do in a real-life emergency, book a Mini First Aid class today. Our award-winning courses are friendly, relaxed, and designed for busy parents - giving you the confidence to handle anything life throws your way.
For more information about burn prevention and support, visit the Children’s Burns Trust.
Children’s Burns Trust social media accounts will be posting in the weeks prior to and on National Burn Awareness Day. Please engage or share to raise as much awareness as possible.
X: @CBTofficial
Facebook: @childrensburnstrust
LinkedIn: @childrensburnstrust
Instagram: @childrensburnstrust
TikTok: @childrensburnstrust
Listen to Michelle tell her story on the Family Health by Mini First Aid podcast, or watch on YouTube.
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