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Minor burn at home: first aid

Cool it under running water for 20 minutes, then cover it loosely.

18 items · 4 sections · health, first-aid, emergency, home

Start this checklist

First 20 minutes (4)

  • Move away from the heat and take off anything tight like rings and watches before it swells
  • Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutesNot ice, iced water or butter.
  • Take off or cut away clothes unless they are stuck to the skin
  • Keep the person warm: cool the burn, not the body

Cover it (5)

  • Pat dry gently
  • Cover with cling film laid lengthwise, or a clean non-fluffy cloth
  • Do not use cotton wool, creams, oils or butter
  • Do not burst blisters
  • Painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen if you can take them

Call an ambulance or go to A&E now if (6)

  • The burn is larger than the person’s hand
  • It is deep, white, brown or black, or looks leathery
  • It is on the face, neck, hands, feet, genitals or over a joint
  • It is a chemical or electrical burn
  • The person is a baby, a child or an older adult
  • The person has trouble breathing after smoke

Over the next days (3)

  • Keep it clean and dry
  • Watch for redness spreading, pus, a bad smell or fever: see a doctor
  • Check tetanus vaccination is up to date if the skin broke

Written from www.nhs.uk

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