Most Helpful Hints: First Aid for Burns

If you have a serious burn, dial 911 for medical assistance or go straight to the Emergency Department of your nearest hospital.

Otherwise, here are a few hints that will help with minor burns:

Get the burned area cool as soon as possible. Here are a few methods for keeping the area cool:
- submerge it in cold water
- hold under running cold water
- wrap it with a cold compress (e.g. towel dunked in cold water)
Remove burned area from water (or remove cold compress) every 5 - 10 minutes. Wait a minute or two to see if burned area still hurts. If it does, apply the cold water or cold compress for another 5 - 10 minutes.
If the cold water or cold compress warms up, replace with new, cold water or compress.
When the burned area no longer hurts, treatment is finished.

This treatment also works for sunburn.
Pain is a signal. If it still hurts, your body is asking for more help. Do not ignore the pain. Pain is not meant to be suffered &mdash it is meant to be responded to.