How to treat a burn or scald: the first-aid steps that matter

Cool it under running water — this is the step that matters

The single most effective thing you can do for almost any burn or scald is to cool it under cool or lukewarm running water. NHS inform says to hold it under cold running water for 20 minutes; the main NHS guidance gives a 15-to-30-minute range. Aim for at least 20 minutes, and start as soon as possible after the injury.

Keep going even when it feels like a long time — cooling limits how deep the burn develops and takes the pain down. A running tap, shower or clean jug all work. If you can't get to water straight away, start as soon as you can rather than skipping it.

Cool the burn, but keep the rest of the person warm — a blanket over the shoulders and unaffected areas, taking care not to press on the injury. Cooling a large area, or a small child, for a long spell can drop their body temperature, so that balance matters.

The full NHS sequence, in order

While the water is running, work through the rest in order. First, get the person away from the heat source. Second, remove any jewellery, watches or clothing near the burn before the area swells — but never pull off anything that is stuck to the skin. Third, cool under running water for at least 20 minutes. Fourth, keep the person warm.

Fifth, once the burn has cooled, cover it by laying a single layer of cling film over the top (a clean plastic bag works well for a hand). Lay it on loosely — do not wrap it tightly around a limb, because the area may swell. Sixth, treat pain with paracetamol or ibuprofen at the normal dose.

If the face or eyes are affected, don't apply cling film. Instead help the person sit up rather than lie down, which helps reduce swelling, and get medical help.

What never to put on a burn

The NHS is explicit about what to avoid. Don't use ice, iced water or a cold pack — they can deepen the injury rather than help it. Don't apply butter, oils, creams, toothpaste or any greasy substance. Don't burst any blisters. And don't use sticky or fluffy coverings such as plasters or cotton wool, which can stick to the wound.

Once a minor burn has fully cooled and is healing, an emollient can soothe skin that becomes dry or itchy — but that is aftercare, not first aid. In the first 20 minutes, nothing goes on the burn except water.

When it's a 999 or A&E job

Cool the burn first, then get emergency help — call 999 or go to A&E — if the burn is bigger than the affected person's hand; is deep or leaves white or charred skin at any size; is on the face, neck, hands, feet, any joint or the genitals; or was caused by a chemical or by electricity. All chemical and electrical burns need assessing however minor they look. Also seek urgent help for signs of shock, or if the person has breathed in smoke or fumes.

Treat a burn to a baby, a young child or an older person as one to get checked. Call 111 for advice if it isn't clearly an emergency, or 999 if it meets the triggers above. NHS inform also sets a lower threshold to seek help for people with conditions such as diabetes, or heart, lung or liver disease, or a weakened immune system.

For a chemical burn, remove contaminated clothing, rinse continuously with running water and call 999. For electricity, don't touch the person until you know the supply is off — switch it off at the mains for a domestic shock, and never approach anyone in contact with a high-voltage source. Then call 999.

Caring for a minor burn afterwards

If the burn is small, shallow and not in one of the higher-risk areas above, you can usually treat it at home. Keep it clean, don't burst any blisters, and if you cover it use a non-fluffy, non-adhesive dressing. Paracetamol or ibuprofen manages the pain.

Watch for infection over the following days — increasing pain, redness, swelling, pus or a high temperature. Contact your GP or call 111 if any of these appear, if a blister is large, or if the burn isn't healing. And call 111 any time you're unsure what to do — that is exactly what the service is for.

What to keep within reach

The tools that matter for burns are ordinary: a cold tap, cling film, a couple of clean plastic bags, some non-adhesive dressings, and paracetamol or ibuprofen. A basic household first-aid kit covers the lot — you don't need anything specialised, and the tap does the real work.

Store the kit somewhere everyone in the house knows, keep the painkillers in date, and make sure children old enough to understand know the one rule that saves the most damage: cool water, straight away, for 20 minutes.