Blisters

Blisters heal on their own without treatment for most children. Treatment will vary according to the cause. 

Blisters at school typically occur from burns, scalds, sunburns, contact dermatitis, medication reactions, friction, or irritation. Blisters can also occur from an infection, like impetigo, or a viral infection, like chicken pox.

General actions if a child experiences a blister in their school or program:

• Never opening or popping a blister.
• Wash your hands and put on gloves.
• Wash the area gently with soap and water to keep it clean and dry.
• Removing or changing items that are resulting in friction, if applicable
• Offering a cold pack to help with swelling or discomfort
• Applying a dressing if the blister opens to keep it clean
• Observing the area for signs of warmth, redness, swelling
• Remove gloves and wash your hands.
• Communicate with the parent if a blister is discovered while the child is at school or program.
• If the child has many blisters or a blister that does not heal or keeps returning, encourage the parents to communicate with their child’s healthcare provider.
• Documenting the date, time, observation of the blister, care provided, communication with the school nurse, and any communication with the parents in the child’s student health record