Burns
Skin injured by heat, chemicals, electricity, or steam.
Step-by-step
- 1
Stop the burning
Move the person away from the heat source. If their clothing is on fire, smother flames with a blanket or have them roll on the ground.
- 2
Cool with running water for 20 minutes
Run cool (not cold) tap water over the burn for a full 20 minutes. This is the single most important step — it dramatically reduces tissue damage. Even if hours have passed, water still helps in the first 3 hours.
- 3
Remove jewellery and tight clothing
Burns swell. Remove rings, watches, belts, and tight clothing around the area — but DO NOT pull off anything stuck to the burn.
- 4
Cover loosely
Use cling film (plastic wrap) or a clean non-fluffy cloth. Lay it on, don't wrap tightly. Plastic wrap is ideal because it doesn't stick.
- 5
Manage pain and shock
Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain. Keep the rest of the body warm — burns cause heat loss. Give small sips of water unless the burn is severe.
🛑 Do NOT
- Do NOT apply butter, oil, toothpaste, or any home remedy — these trap heat and cause infection.
- Do NOT use ice or very cold water — it can deepen the burn.
- Do NOT burst blisters.
- Do NOT pull off clothing that is stuck to the skin.
📞 Call an ambulance if…
- The burn is larger than the person's palm.
- The burn is on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or over a joint.
- The skin looks white, charred, leathery, or there's no pain (deep burn — nerve damage).
- It's a chemical or electrical burn.
- The person is a child, elderly, or has breathed in smoke.
This guide is educational content — not medical advice. Always call emergency services first. Sources: Red Cross, American Heart Association, NHS England.