First Aid Guru

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Episode 13 of 14 · 4 min read

How to Treat Burns and Scalds

Cool the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes, remove jewellery near the burn, then protect it with cling film. No creams, no fluffy dressings, and never remove clothing stuck to a burn.

Burn or scald, and how deep

A burn comes from dry heat, a scald from wet heat: water, steam, a hot surface or fire. Depth matters more than the name.

  • Superficial: top layer of skin only. Red, sore, tender
  • Partial thickness: the skin breaks and may blister
  • Full thickness: every layer damaged, possibly the nerves too. Can look charred or waxy

Treating a burn

  1. 1

    Cool it under cool running water for a minimum of 20 minutes.

    Then reassess: it may need longer. This single step does more than anything else to limit the damage.

  2. 2

    Remove jewellery near the burn early.

    Watches, bracelets and rings come off before swelling makes circulation worse.

  3. 3

    Protect with cling film.

    Rip off and discard the first layer (the roll's outer surface), then lay a couple of layers loosely over the burn, scrunched at the edges. It is sterile, it does not stick to the wound, you can see through it, and you can keep cooling through it.

  4. 4

    Watch for shock.

    Larger or deeper burns lose a lot of fluid. Pale, cold, clammy, light-headed: lie them down, raise the legs, call 999.

When a burn needs hospital

  • Superficial burn bigger than 5% of their body surface (their palm is about 1%)
  • Partial thickness burn bigger than 1%
  • Full thickness burn: always, usually by ambulance
  • Any burn that goes all the way around a limb
  • Burns to hands, face, feet or genitals
  • The very young (especially under 5) and the elderly

Do

  • Cool for a full 20 minutes minimum, by the clock
  • Take rings and watches off before swelling starts
  • Use cling film, first layer discarded, laid on loosely

Don't

  • Do not remove clothing stuck to a burn: you will remove skin with it
  • Do not apply creams, ointments or butter
  • Do not use adhesive or fluffy dressings

Common questions

How long should you cool a burn for?

At least 20 minutes under cool running water, then reassess. Cooling limits the depth of the damage, and cling film laid over the burn afterwards still lets you cool it again if needed.

Why cling film on a burn?

It is sterile once you discard the outer layer, it does not stick to the wound, you can see the burn through it, and it keeps infection out while you get the casualty to further care.

When does a burn need hospital?

Full thickness burns always. Partial thickness over 1% of body surface, superficial over 5%, any burn circling a limb, burns to hands, face, feet or genitals, and burns on young children or the elderly.

Related skills

Shock & FaintingBleeding & WoundsPrimary Survey · DRABC

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First Aid Guru guides support learning and refreshing your knowledge. They are not a substitute for regulated, hands-on first aid training or for professional medical advice. In an emergency call 999 (UK) and follow the call handler's instructions.