First Aid
for Burns
Step-by-step burn treatment for every type and severity — from minor scalds at home to severe chemical, electrical, and inhalation burns. Know what to do before help arrives.
Remove from sourceStop the burning. Remove person from heat, chemical, or electrical source safely.
Cool with waterRun cool (not cold or ice) water over the burn for 20 full minutes. Start within 3 hours.
Remove clothingRemove jewellery and clothing near the burn — but never pull off anything stuck to the skin.
Cover looselyCover with cling film (plastic wrap) or a clean non-fluffy cloth. Never cotton wool or bandages.
Seek helpMinor burns: visit pharmacy or GP. Severe burns: call emergency services immediately.
Burns are classified by depth of tissue damage. Correctly identifying the degree determines whether home treatment is appropriate or emergency care is required. The same heat source can cause different degree burns depending on the temperature, duration of contact, and the age and skin thickness of the victim.
- Affects outer skin layer (epidermis) only
- Red, dry, painful — no blisters
- Blanches (turns white) when pressed
- Common: sunburn, brief hot touch
- Heals in 3–5 days
- Epidermis + part of dermis affected
- Blisters, wet/shiny surface, intense pain
- Superficial: pink, moist — heals in 2–3 weeks
- Deep: mottled white/red — may need grafting
- Risk of scarring, especially if deep
- All skin layers destroyed (epidermis + full dermis)
- White, brown, or black — leathery, dry appearance
- Painless — nerve endings destroyed
- Cannot heal without skin grafting
- Significant scarring inevitable
- Extends through skin into muscle, tendon, and bone
- Charred, black, or bone-visible appearance
- Life-threatening — massive fluid and protein loss
- Requires immediate resuscitation and surgery
- Limb amputation may be necessary
The “Rule of Nines” — Estimating Burn Size
Medical teams use the Rule of Nines to estimate the percentage of body surface area (BSA) burned: head = 9%, each arm = 9%, chest = 9%, abdomen = 9%, upper back = 9%, lower back = 9%, each thigh = 9%, each lower leg = 9%, genitals = 1%. Burns covering more than 10% BSA in children or 15–20% BSA in adults require intravenous fluid resuscitation to prevent hypovolaemic shock.
The correct immediate response to a burn dramatically influences the depth of tissue damage, pain, healing speed, and risk of infection. Follow these steps in order for any thermal burn.
Ensure Safety — Stop the Burning Process
Remove the person from the source of heat. For flames: stop, drop, and roll to extinguish burning clothing. Turn off the electrical source before touching an electrocution victim. For chemicals: remove contaminated clothing (wearing gloves if available) and brush off dry chemicals before applying water.
Cool the Burn Immediately — 20 Minutes Under Cool Running Water
This is the single most important step. Run cool (15–25°C) tap water over the burn continuously for 20 full minutes. This reduces tissue temperature, limits the depth of damage, significantly reduces pain, and decreases oedema. Begin within 3 hours for benefit — even up to 3 hours after the burn, cooling reduces tissue damage. Do not use ice, iced water, butter, toothpaste, or any creams during this phase.
Remove Clothing and Jewellery Near the Burn
Carefully remove rings, watches, belts, and clothing near the burned area — these can restrict circulation as swelling develops. Never pull off clothing or material that is stuck or adhered to the burn wound, as this tears fragile new tissue. Cut around adhered material if necessary.
Cover Loosely with Cling Film or a Clean Non-Fluffy Dressing
After cooling, cover the burn loosely with cling film (plastic wrap) — the ideal burn dressing. It is sterile from the roll, non-adherent, transparent (allowing wound monitoring), and reduces evaporative fluid loss. Lay it over the burn in strips rather than wrapping tightly. Alternatives: a clean plastic bag for hand burns, or a clean non-fluffy cloth. Avoid: cotton wool, fluffy bandages, plasters directly on the wound.
Manage Pain and Prevent Hypothermia
Over-the-counter analgesia (paracetamol or ibuprofen) can be given to the victim if conscious and not allergic. Keep the rest of the body warm — extensive cooling of large burns can cause dangerous hypothermia, especially in children and elderly patients. Offer reassurance and keep the person calm — anxiety worsens pain perception.
Seek Appropriate Medical Care
For minor 1st degree burns or small superficial 2nd degree burns in adults: visit a pharmacist. For larger, deeper, or burns in special locations: attend urgent care or A&E. For severe, extensive, or complicated burns: call emergency services immediately. Do not delay seeking care while attempting home remedies.
Incorrect burn first aid is extremely common and can significantly worsen outcomes. The following are evidence-based guidelines on what to do — and what to absolutely avoid.
✓ Always Do
- Run cool water for exactly 20 minutes
- Start cooling within 3 hours of the burn
- Use cling film or clean plastic to cover
- Remove loose jewellery and clothing nearby
- Give paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain
- Keep the person warm (body, not the burn)
- Seek medical care for all 2nd degree+ burns
- Watch for signs of infection over 48–72 hours
- Keep burn wound clean and moist during healing
- Apply SPF 30+ to healed burn skin for 1 year
✕ Never Do
- Apply ice or iced water — causes frostbite and deeper damage
- Use butter, toothpaste, oil, or egg white — trap heat and introduce bacteria
- Burst blisters — the blister roof is a natural sterile dressing
- Apply cotton wool or fluffy materials — fibres stick to the wound
- Pull off clothing or material stuck to the burn
- Apply tight bandages or wrap the burn tightly
- Use adhesive plasters directly on the burn surface
- Breathe on or touch the burn unnecessarily
- Give aspirin to children under 16
- Dismiss a burn on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or airway
Why Butter and Toothpaste Are Dangerous
Despite being deeply embedded in folklore, applying butter, coconut oil, toothpaste, egg white, or yoghurt to a burn is actively harmful. These substances trap heat in the tissue (worsening burn depth), introduce bacteria (dramatically increasing infection risk), and must be painfully removed before proper medical treatment can begin — delaying care and causing additional trauma. They have no clinical evidence of benefit whatsoever.
Certain burn locations and types require specific first aid approaches and are associated with a higher risk of serious complications — even when the burn itself appears relatively small.
Eye Burns
Irrigate immediately with clean water or saline for 20–30 minutes, holding the eyelids open. Remove contact lenses first. Attend A&E — all eye burns require urgent ophthalmological review regardless of apparent severity.
Inhalation Burns
Burns to the airway from hot gas or smoke inhalation are life-threatening emergencies. Symptoms: hoarse voice, stridor, facial burns, singed nasal hairs, sooty sputum. Airway can swell shut within hours. Call 999/911 immediately.
Burns on Hands / Feet
High-function areas with complex anatomy. Even small full-thickness hand burns require specialist burns unit care to preserve function. Cover with a clean plastic bag after cooling and seek emergency review.
Burns on Face
Facial burns risk airway involvement, eye damage, and significant cosmetic scarring. All facial burns beyond superficial sunburn require urgent medical evaluation. Cool carefully — avoid prolonged cooling that causes hypothermia in young children.
Circumferential Burns
Burns encircling a limb, finger, or the chest create eschar (hardened burned tissue) that can act as a tourniquet, cutting off circulation. Medical emergency — requires escharotomy (surgical release) to restore blood flow.
Sunburn
A true 1st degree thermal burn. Cool the skin, moisturise with aloe vera or a fragrance-free lotion, take ibuprofen for inflammation, and stay well-hydrated. Extensive blistering sunburn in children requires medical evaluation.
Chemical burns result from contact with acids (battery acid, drain cleaner), alkalis (bleach, ammonia, cement), solvents, or oxidising agents. They continue burning as long as the chemical remains in contact with the tissue — making rapid, thorough decontamination the absolute priority.
Protect Yourself First
Wear gloves and eye protection if available before touching the victim. Chemical burns can be transferred to rescuers. If the chemical is airborne (fumes), move the victim upwind to fresh air before beginning treatment.
Brush Off Dry Chemicals First
If the chemical is dry (e.g. dry lime, cement powder), brush it off with a clean cloth or gloved hand before applying water. Water activates many dry chemicals and can dramatically increase the burn. Then irrigate thoroughly.
Irrigate With Large Volumes of Water — 30–60 Minutes
Chemical burns require longer irrigation than thermal burns — minimum 30 minutes for acids, minimum 60 minutes for alkalis (alkalis penetrate deeper and continue reacting longer). Use a running tap, hose, or safety shower. Remove all contaminated clothing during irrigation.
Do NOT Attempt Neutralisation
Never try to neutralise an acid burn with an alkali (or vice versa). Neutralisation reactions generate heat that can worsen the burn significantly. Water dilution and removal is always the correct approach.
Seek Emergency Care for All Significant Chemical Burns
All chemical burns beyond trivial splashes require medical evaluation. If you know the chemical involved, bring the product container or its Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to hospital — it guides treatment significantly. Call Poison Control / NHS 111 if unsure about the substance.
Hydrofluoric Acid Burns — A Special Danger
Hydrofluoric acid (HF), found in some rust removers and industrial cleaners, is uniquely dangerous — it penetrates skin without causing immediate pain, binds calcium ions in tissue, and can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmia from systemic fluoride toxicity even with small exposure areas. It requires specific antidote treatment (calcium gluconate gel). If HF exposure is suspected, call emergency services immediately even if the burn appears minor.
Electrical burns are among the most deceptive and dangerous injuries — the visible skin burns are often small and misleadingly minor, while deep internal tissue destruction and life-threatening cardiac effects can occur along the path of the current through the body.
Never Touch an Electrocution Victim Until the Power Is Off
Do not touch the victim unless you are absolutely certain the electrical source has been turned off at the mains. Electricity can travel through the rescuer, causing a second electrocution. Turn off the power at the fuse box or use a non-conductive object (dry wooden broom handle) to push the source away. Call emergency services before approaching.
- Entry and exit wounds: Current enters at the contact point and exits at the grounding point — both may be burn injuries. The internal tissue between these points may be extensively damaged despite appearing intact externally
- Cardiac risk: Electrical current can cause ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest. Any victim of significant electrical injury requires cardiac monitoring (ECG) for at least 6–12 hours even if initially asymptomatic
- Rhabdomyolysis: Electrical current destroys muscle cells, releasing myoglobin into the bloodstream, which can cause acute kidney failure. IV fluid resuscitation in hospital is often required
- Spinal precautions: If the victim fell or was thrown by the electrical shock, treat as a potential spinal injury — minimise movement and stabilise the neck until emergency services arrive
- Lightning strikes: Despite the enormous energy involved, lightning strike survivors have a relatively good prognosis if CPR is initiated promptly. Cardiac arrest is the primary cause of death. Begin CPR immediately if the victim is unresponsive and not breathing normally
- Always attend A&E after any significant electrical injury, even if the victim feels well and the visible burns appear trivial
Children are at significantly higher risk of serious burns than adults. Their skin is thinner — the same heat source that causes a superficial burn in an adult may cause a deep partial or full-thickness burn in a child. Scalds from hot liquids are the most common severe paediatric burn injury.
| Age Group | Most Common Cause | Key Risk | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infants (0–2 yrs) | Bath scalds, hot drinks spilled by adults | Thinner skin = deeper burns; hypothermia risk during cooling | Cool burn only — keep rest of body warm; attend A&E for all burns |
| Toddlers (2–5 yrs) | Pulling hot drinks off tables, oven/hob contact | Hand and face burns common; large BSA relative to body | Any burn larger than child’s palm or on face/hands = A&E immediately |
| School age (5–12 yrs) | Bonfire/fireworks, cooking, sunburn | Deeper burns from flame; poor sun protection habits | Standard first aid; evaluate depth carefully; GP or A&E for anything beyond superficial |
Scald Prevention — The 5-Minute Bath Rule
Bath scalds are the leading cause of severe burns in children under 5. Always test bath water with your elbow before placing a child in. Set your home water heater to no higher than 48°C (120°F). Never leave a child alone in the bath. Never hold a hot drink while holding an infant. Keep hot drinks in the centre of tables, out of reach of small hands.
Always Seek Medical Care for Burn Injuries in Children
The threshold for seeking medical review should be much lower for children than adults. Take any child with a burn larger than their palm, any burn on face/hands/feet/genitals, any suspected deep burn, or any burn that occurred in suspicious circumstances to A&E — do not wait to see if it improves.
After initial first aid and medical assessment, minor burns treated at home require consistent wound care to heal cleanly and minimise scarring. The following applies to superficial 1st degree and small superficial 2nd degree burns only.
Initial Cooling & Dressing
Continue cool water if within 3 hours. Cover with cling film or a non-stick silicone dressing (e.g. Mepitel One). Change dressing if visibly soiled. Do not pop blisters. Give regular paracetamol/ibuprofen for pain.
Daily Dressing Changes
Gently clean the wound with saline or clean water. Reapply a non-adherent dressing. Check daily for signs of infection (increasing redness, pus, worsening pain, fever). Keep the area moist — dry wounds heal slower and scar more.
Re-Epithelialisation
New skin (epithelium) grows across the wound surface. The area may appear pink, shiny, and feel tight or itchy — this is normal healing. Moisturise with an unperfumed cream (e.g. E45, Aqueous cream). Avoid sun exposure.
Scar Maturation
Healed burn skin is fragile, sensitive, and lacks melanin protection. Apply SPF 30+ sunscreen daily for at least 1 year. Massage scar tissue gently with moisturiser twice daily to prevent hypertrophic scarring. Silicone gel sheets can reduce raised scarring if applied early and consistently.
Blisters — Leave Them Alone
Blisters that form over a burn are the body’s natural protective dressing — the fluid inside (serum) keeps the wound moist, protects against bacteria, and facilitates healing. Never deliberately burst burn blisters. If a blister breaks spontaneously, clean gently with saline, apply a non-adherent dressing, and monitor closely for infection.
Go to A&E / Urgent Care for:
Any 2nd degree burn larger than the size of the victim’s palm · Any burn on face, hands, feet, or over a joint · Burns in children, elderly (65+), or immunocompromised patients · Burns that encircle a limb or digit · Burns that show signs of infection · Any burn that was not cooled adequately in the first aid stage · Burns where the depth or cause is uncertain.
Burn wounds are highly susceptible to infection — the damaged skin barrier provides entry for bacteria, and the warm, moist wound environment is ideal for microbial growth. Infection dramatically worsens outcomes and can cause life-threatening sepsis. Monitor all burn wounds carefully for the following warning signs, particularly in the first 48–72 hours.
- Increasing redness or warmth spreading beyond the wound edge — especially if it continues to worsen after day 2 (some redness is normal initially)
- Purulent (pus) discharge — yellow, green, or brown fluid from the wound that has an unpleasant smell
- Fever above 38°C (100.4°F) — systemic signs of infection requiring urgent medical attention
- Increasing pain in a burn that was improving — worsening pain after the first 24–48 hours suggests infection
- Wound colour change — green or black discolouration of wound tissue indicates bacterial colonisation (Pseudomonas produces green pigment)
- Swelling and hardening of the wound edges that is progressing rather than improving
- Lymphangitis — red streaks spreading up the arm or leg from the wound, indicating spread of infection through lymphatic vessels — a medical emergency
Do Not Apply Antibiotic Creams Without Advice
Topical antibiotics like neomycin or fusidic acid should only be applied on medical advice. Inappropriate antibiotic use promotes resistant organisms (particularly MRSA and Pseudomonas) that are significantly harder to treat. For minor burns, clean wound care and moist dressings are sufficient. If infection is suspected, seek medical review — systemic antibiotics may be required.
Over 90% of burns are preventable. Most serious burns occur at home, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom. Simple environmental changes and safety habits can dramatically reduce burn risk across all age groups.
🏠 In the Kitchen
- Turn pot handles inward — never hanging over the edge
- Never leave cooking unattended on the hob
- Keep children and pets away from cooking areas
- Use oven gloves, not tea towels, for hot pans
- Let microwaved food stand before eating
- Check temperature of microwaved baby food with your wrist
🛁 In the Bathroom
- Set water heater to max 48°C / 120°F
- Always test bath water with your elbow first
- Run cold water first, then add hot
- Never leave young children alone in the bath
- Install anti-scald devices on taps and showers
- Keep hair dryers and irons unplugged when not in use
- Install working smoke alarms on every floor and test them monthly
- Keep a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen — know how to use it before you need it
- Never leave candles, fireplaces, or bonfires unattended
- Store chemicals in original labelled containers in locked, ventilated spaces
- Wear appropriate PPE (gloves, goggles, apron) when handling acids, alkalis, or industrial chemicals
- Apply SPF 30+ sunscreen 30 minutes before outdoor exposure and reapply every 2 hours
- Learn basic burn first aid — keep a first aid kit with cling film readily accessible
- In workplaces with burn risk: know the location of emergency eyewash stations, safety showers, and fire blankets
Cool. Cover. Seek Care.
Three words that summarise effective burn first aid. Knowing what to do — and what not to do — in the first minutes after a burn genuinely changes outcomes. Share this guide so others are prepared too.
⚕️ Medical Disclaimer: This post is for first aid guidance and informational purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice or emergency care. For all serious burns, call your local emergency services. When in doubt — seek medical evaluation. It is always better to have a minor burn reviewed than to risk underestimating a serious one.
📌 SEO Reference — Post Metadata
Title: First Aid for Burns: Step-by-Step Treatment for Every Burn Type & Severity
Meta Description: Learn correct first aid for burns — from minor scalds to severe chemical and electrical burns. Covers burn degrees, 20-minute cooling rule, do’s and don’ts, wound care, and when to call 999/911.
Slug: first-aid-for-burns
Focus Keyword: first aid for burns
Secondary Keywords: burn first aid how to treat a burn burn treatment at home first degree burn treatment second degree burn first aid third degree burn emergency chemical burn first aid electrical burn treatment scald first aid burn blister treatment how to cool a burn what to put on a burn sunburn first aid burn wound care burn first aid steps rule of nines burns
