Burns and Scalds: First Aid at Home

A hot cup of tea, a pan of oil, a geyser set too high, an iron left on the floor. Most burns at home happen in seconds, and what you do in the first few minutes makes a real difference to how the skin heals.

First aid for a burn or scald

1. Stop the burning. Move the person away from the heat source. If clothing is on fire, smother the flames safely. If the burn was caused by a chemical, take care not to get it on yourself.
2. Cool the burn with cool running water for 20 minutes. The NHS advises doing this as soon as possible, and says it still helps if started within three hours of the injury. If there is no running tap, cool bottled water or a clean wet towel can be used.
3. Use cool water, not ice-cold water. Mayo Clinic warns that cold water can make the injury worse.
4. Remove rings, watches, belts and clothing near the burn before swelling starts. Do not pull off anything that is stuck to the burned skin.
5. Cover the burn. After cooling, lay a sheet of cling film over the area. Do not wrap it around an arm or leg, because the skin will swell.
6. Raise the burned part above the level of the heart if you can, to reduce swelling.
7. For pain, an ordinary over-the-counter painkiller may help. Ask a pharmacist what is suitable for you or your child.

What NOT to put on a burn

A lot of common home remedies make burns worse, not better. Sources warn against all of these:

• Ice or ice-cold water. It can deepen the injury.
• Butter, cooking oil or toothpaste. Mayo Clinic explains that these trap heat in the skin and cause irritation.
• Creams, lotions and ointments on a fresh burn. Soothing lotion is only for later, once the burn has cooled and started to heal.
• Plasters or sticky dressings directly on the burn.
• Bursting blisters. Blisters protect the raw skin underneath from infection. Leave them alone.
• Pulling off stuck clothing. Cool the area with the fabric in place and let a health worker remove it.

When to get emergency help

Call Rescue 1122 where available, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, if the burn:

• Is deep, or looks dry, leathery or charred, with white, brown or black patches
• Is larger than about 7.5 cm (3 inches) across
• Is on the face, hands, feet, genitals, buttocks or a major joint
• Goes all the way around an arm, leg, finger or toe
• Was caused by acid, another chemical, electricity or lightning
• Is swelling quickly
• Happened along with breathing in smoke
• Is on a baby, a young child or an older adult

Any burn to the eyes or mouth needs to be checked, even if it looks small. If the person has cool clammy skin, a weak pulse or fast breathing, these can be signs of shock and need emergency care.

While you wait for help with a serious burn

Keep the person away from the heat source, check that they are breathing, gently remove jewellery and tight clothing from around the burn, and cover the area loosely with a clean, dry cloth.

Looking after a small burn afterwards

Small burns and scalds often heal at home in around two weeks. Keep the area clean and dry. Get it checked if it becomes more swollen, redder and more painful, or if pus appears, as these suggest infection. Deep burns may also need a tetanus booster if your last one was more than five years ago, so mention your vaccination history when you see a health worker.

If you are not sure how serious a burn is, especially in a child under five, do not wait and watch at home. Have it looked at.