A spate of burns among children has prompted a warning to parents to be more vigilant.

An 18-month-old girl is recovering in the Royal Children’s Hospital after being scalded with a hot cup of tea. Elle reached up to a kitchen bench to grab her dad’s cup and now has first, second and third degree burns to seven percent of her body. She went into shock as her dad rushed her into the shower to help alleviate some of the pain. Ella was then rushed to hospital.

She will require ongoing treatment and have scars for the rest of her life.

Royal Children’s Hospital nurse Kathy Bicknell says if a child does suffer burns, parents should hold the area where the child has suffered a burn under cold running water for 20 minutes, while keeping the rest of the child warm.

Seventy children each year are admitted to the hospital for burns.