A scald from the kettle, a splash from the barbecue, a touch of a hot oven tray – burns are one of the most common injuries at home and at work. What you do in the first 20 minutes has a big impact on how well a burn heals, and whether it leaves a scar or needs a trip to hospital.
The most important step – cool the burn
For any heat burn, hold the area under cool running water for 20 minutes. This is the single most effective thing you can do, and it still helps even up to three hours after the burn. Remove any clothing or jewellery from the area first (unless it is stuck to the skin), as burns can swell quickly.
What NOT to do
Some old remedies do more harm than good. Never put ice, iced water, butter, oil, toothpaste or ointments on a burn – ice can cause further tissue damage, and greasy substances trap heat in. Don’t break any blisters, and don’t use fluffy cotton wool or anything that will stick to the wound.
After cooling
- Cover the burn loosely with a clean, non-stick dressing or clean plastic cling wrap laid over (not wrapped tightly around) the area.
- Keep the person warm and comfortable, and reassure them.
- Give paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain if appropriate.
- When there’s no tap in reach, a hydrogel burn gel or dressing is a useful first step to cool and protect the area.
When to get medical help
Seek medical attention – or call Triple Zero (000) for a serious burn – if the burn is larger than a 20-cent coin, is deep, or is on the face, hands, feet, genitals or over a joint. Also get help for burns to a child or elderly person, for any chemical or electrical burn, or if the skin looks white, charred or leathery. All but the most minor burns should be reviewed by a health professional.
Chemical and electrical burns
For a chemical burn, remove contaminated clothing and flush the area with running water for at least 20 minutes, taking care not to spread the chemical. For an electrical burn, make sure the power source is switched off before touching the person, as electrical burns can be far more serious than they look on the surface. Call 000.
Keeping burn first aid supplies within easy reach – at work, in the car and in the kitchen – means you can act quickly when every second of cooling counts.
Free download — Burns First Aid guide
Keep our quick one-page burns first aid guide on hand at home, in the car or at work. Download the free Burns First Aid A4 guide (PDF).
Source: Australian Resuscitation Council (ANZCOR), healthdirect and Better Health Channel