Knowing the correct burns first aid can reduce further damage to the skin and help someone get the medical treatment they need.

The most important action for an ordinary heat burn or scald is simple: cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes.

Do this as soon as possible.

Remove clothing and jewellery from around the affected area where you can, but never pull away anything stuck to the burn. Once cooling is complete, cover the injury loosely and decide whether further medical treatment is required.

This guide explains what to do for burns and scalds, what you should never put on a burn, when to call 999 and how chemical and electrical burns are different.

What Is a Burn?

A burn is damage to the skin or deeper tissues caused by heat or another harmful source.

Burns can be caused by:

flames
hot surfaces
electricity
chemicals
friction
radiation, including sunlight

A scald is a burn caused by hot liquid or steam.

Examples include spilling boiling water, hot drinks, cooking liquids or bath water onto the skin.

Although the causes can differ, immediate burns first aid can make an important difference to the casualty.

Burns First Aid: What Should You Do?

For an ordinary thermal burn or scald, remember three straightforward actions:

Cool. Call. Cover.

1. Stop the Burning Process

Before helping someone, make sure it is safe to approach them.

Move the casualty away from the source of the heat if this can be done safely.

If someone’s clothing is on fire, they should:

Stop. Drop. Roll.

Stop them from running, help them get onto the ground and roll them to extinguish the flames.

Never put yourself in danger while trying to help someone else.

2. Remove Clothing and Jewellery Near the Burn

Carefully remove loose clothing and jewellery from around the burned area.

This is particularly important for items such as:

rings
watches
bracelets
belts
shoes
nappies

Burned tissue can swell, so jewellery and tight clothing can become restrictive.

Do not remove anything that is stuck to the skin.

Trying to pull stuck clothing away can cause further damage.

3. Cool the Burn for 20 Minutes

Place the affected area under cool running water for 20 minutes.

Start cooling as soon as possible.

Cooling can still be beneficial if started within three hours of the injury.

Do not cut the cooling time short simply because the casualty says the burn feels better after a few minutes.

The aim is to remove heat from the tissues, not just provide temporary pain relief.

If running water is unavailable, cool bottled water or a cool wet towel can be used until proper running water becomes available.

Why Do We Cool a Burn for 20 Minutes?

Heat can continue damaging tissue after the casualty has moved away from the original source.

Cooling helps remove this residual heat.

That is why 20 minutes of cool running water is such an important part of burns first aid.

It can help:

limit ongoing tissue damage
reduce pain
reduce swelling
improve the outcome of the injury

Twenty minutes can feel surprisingly long during an emergency.

Keep cooling for the full recommended period where possible.

Should You Use Ice on a Burn?

No.

Do not put ice or iced water directly onto a burn.

Extreme cold can damage the skin and tissues further.

Use cool running tap water, not ice.

Keep the Casualty Warm

There is an important balance during burns first aid:

Cool the burn, but keep the casualty warm.

Only the burned area needs cooling.

Keep the rest of the casualty covered where possible, particularly when treating:

babies
children
older people
casualties with large burns

Prolonged cooling of a large area can contribute to hypothermia.

Monitor the casualty while you are providing treatment.

How Should You Cover a Burn?

Once the burn has been cooled, it can be covered to help protect the damaged area.

For many burns, lay cling film loosely over the injury.

Do not wrap cling film tightly around a limb or other part of the body.

The area may swell, so wrapping it circumferentially can become restrictive.

A clean, non-fluffy cloth or non-adherent dressing can be used if cling film is not available.

Do not put cling film over a facial burn.

Can You Use a Plastic Bag for a Burn?

A clean plastic bag can sometimes be useful for burns to a hand or foot after the injury has been properly cooled.

It can help protect the area without sticking directly to the burn.

However, it should be clean and used loosely.

The priority remains:

cool first, then cover.

What Should You Never Put on a Burn?

There are many traditional burn remedies that should not be used.

Do not put the following onto a fresh burn:

butter
cooking oil
toothpaste
creams
ointments
grease
ice
adhesive plasters
fluffy dressings

These do not replace proper cooling and some can make subsequent assessment and treatment more difficult.

The correct immediate treatment for an ordinary burn or scald is cool running water for 20 minutes.

Should You Burst a Burn Blister?

No.

Do not deliberately burst blisters.

Blisters can form after damage to the skin and may help protect the tissue underneath.

Breaking them can increase the risk of infection.

If you are concerned about blistering or the severity of a burn, seek appropriate medical advice.

When Should You Call 999 for a Burn?

Some burns require urgent medical attention.

Call 999 or seek emergency hospital treatment for burns that are:

very large
deep
on the face
on the genitals
on the bottom
caused by chemicals or acid
caused by electricity

You should also consider the casualty’s overall condition.

A serious fire or burn may involve other problems such as:

smoke inhalation
breathing difficulties
trauma
shock
loss of consciousness

If the casualty is seriously unwell, has difficulty breathing or becomes unresponsive, call 999 immediately.

For a burn or scald where you are unsure what to do, contact NHS 111 for advice.

You can read the current NHS guidance on burns and scalds for further information.

Burns to the Face and Airway

Burns around the face require particular attention.

Be concerned if the casualty has been involved in a fire or explosion and has:

burns around their face or mouth
difficulty breathing
coughing
a hoarse voice
signs that they may have inhaled smoke or hot gases

Airway problems can become serious.

Call 999 if you suspect a significant facial burn or inhalation injury.

Continue to monitor the casualty’s breathing while waiting for the ambulance.

Chemical Burns First Aid

Chemical burns require a different approach from ordinary thermal burns.

Chemicals can continue damaging tissue while they remain in contact with the skin.

If someone has a suspected acid or chemical burn:

Call 999

Chemical burns require urgent medical assessment.

Tell the ambulance service what chemical is involved if you know.

Protect Yourself

Do not become another casualty.

Wear suitable gloves or other protection where available before touching contaminated clothing or the casualty.

Remove Contaminated Clothing

Carefully remove clothing contaminated with the chemical if this can be done without spreading the substance.

Avoid touching contaminated areas with bare skin.

Brush Away Dry Chemicals

If a dry chemical or powder is present, carefully brush it away before irrigation.

Avoid spreading the chemical onto yourself or unaffected areas of the casualty.

Irrigate With Plenty of Water

Current NHS advice recommends putting the affected area under cool or lukewarm running water, or pouring large amounts of water over it, for about one hour.

This is much longer than the standard 20-minute cooling period used for an ordinary thermal burn.

Do not attempt to neutralise one chemical with another.

Do not apply creams or other substances to the injury.

Further information is available in the NHS guidance on acid and chemical burns.

Electrical Burns First Aid

Electrical burns can be deceptive.

The visible burn on the skin may appear relatively small while significant internal injury has occurred.

Make the Scene Safe First

Do not touch the casualty while they remain in contact with a live electrical source.

Switch off the electricity supply if this can be done safely.

With high-voltage electricity, keep well clear and wait for the emergency services to make the area safe.

Call for Emergency Help

Electrical burns require medical assessment.

Call 999 for a serious electrical injury.

Once the electrical source is safely controlled, assess the casualty and provide appropriate first aid.

If they are unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 999 and begin CPR.

Use an AED as soon as one is available.

Our seven steps of CPR and guide to using an AED explain these emergency skills in more detail.

Burns First Aid. How to Treat a Burn or Scald

Burns First Aid for Children

Burns and scalds can be particularly serious in babies and young children.

Their skin is more vulnerable, and a burn affecting a relatively small physical area can represent a significant proportion of their body.

If a child is burned or scalded:

remove them from the source
remove loose clothing, jewellery and nappies near the burn
do not pull away anything stuck to the skin
cool the burn under cool running water
keep the rest of the child warm
cover the cooled burn loosely
seek appropriate medical advice

Do not use ice, creams, oils, toothpaste or butter.

If you are unsure about a burn or scald involving a child, contact NHS 111. Serious burns require emergency medical assessment.

People working with babies and young children can learn more about responding to childhood emergencies in our guide to what Paediatric First Aid training covers.

Burns and Scalds in the Workplace

Burns can occur in many workplaces.

Higher-risk environments can include:

kitchens
catering businesses
manufacturing
engineering
construction
laboratories
healthcare
hospitality
workshops
workplaces using chemicals
workplaces using hot equipment or liquids

Employers should consider burn risks as part of their wider health and safety arrangements and first aid needs assessment.

First aid provision should reflect the hazards present.

For example, a workplace handling corrosive chemicals may require different emergency arrangements from a low-risk office.

Our guide to the legal requirements for first aid at work explains how employers should assess their workplace first aid needs.

Should You Use Burn Gel or a Burn Dressing?

Burn gels and specialist burn dressings are sometimes included in first aid kits.

However, they should not replace proper cooling with running water when water is available.

The priority for a fresh thermal burn remains:

cool running water for 20 minutes.

Once cooling has been completed, the burn can be appropriately covered.

A workplace should select its first aid supplies based on its first aid needs assessment rather than assuming that specialist products replace correct first aid technique.

You can read our guide to workplace first aid kit requirements for more information about selecting appropriate supplies.

What About Burns Caused by Steam?

Steam can cause serious scald injuries.

Treat a steam scald in the same way as another thermal burn:

Stop the burning process.
Remove loose clothing and jewellery.
Cool the injury under cool running water for 20 minutes.
Cover it loosely.
Seek medical help where necessary.

Never deliberately expose someone to steam as a first aid treatment for another medical condition.

Bowls of very hot or boiling water can themselves cause significant scald injuries.

What Are the Different Depths of Burns?

Burns can damage different layers of tissue.

You may hear terms such as:

superficial burn
superficial partial thickness burn
deep partial thickness burn
full thickness burn

However, a first aider does not need to make a definitive clinical diagnosis of burn depth before providing immediate treatment.

Do not delay cooling while trying to classify the burn.

The priority is to:

stop the burning process, cool the injury, cover it appropriately and obtain medical help when required.

What If the Casualty Becomes Unresponsive?

A severe burn may occur alongside other life-threatening injuries.

If the casualty becomes unresponsive, check whether they are breathing normally.

If they are not breathing normally:

call 999
begin CPR
send someone for an AED if one is available
follow the AED’s prompts when it arrives

If the casualty is breathing normally but unresponsive, maintain their airway and continue monitoring them while waiting for emergency help.

Burns First Aid: What to Remember

The most important burns first aid points are:

make sure the scene is safe
stop the burning process
remove loose clothing and jewellery near the burn
never pull away material stuck to the skin
cool an ordinary thermal burn under cool running water for 20 minutes
cool as soon as possible
keep the rest of the casualty warm
do not use ice
do not apply butter, creams, oils or toothpaste
do not burst blisters
cover the cooled burn loosely
do not wrap cling film tightly around the injury
call 999 for serious burns
treat chemical and electrical burns as medical emergencies
monitor the casualty for deterioration

A simple way to remember the immediate approach is:

COOL. CALL. COVER.

Learn How to Treat Burns and Other Emergencies

Reading about burns first aid helps you understand what to do, but practical first aid training gives you the opportunity to develop the confidence to act when an emergency actually happens.

First Aid and Safety Training provides practical first aid qualifications for individuals and organisations across the North East.

Depending on your role and workplace, suitable training can include:

You can also explore our first aid training across the North East or contact First Aid and Safety Training to discuss training for your organisation.

Our main training centre is at One Trinity Green in South Shields. You can view our South Shields location and reviews on Google Maps.

Real Skills, Real Confidence.