First Aid for Burns: A Complete Guide

Burn first aid response with hydrogel burn pad

Burns can cause painful and serious injuries, so it’s good to know how to offer immediate first aid to relieve them.

In this article, we’ll explore the different types of burns.

We’ll also explain how to give burns first aid to give you confidence in this situation.

The difference between burns and scalds

To get you started, let’s understand the difference between burns and scalds.

Burns are injuries caused by being out in the sun, heat (for example, fire), electricity or chemicals.

Scalds are caused by steam or hot water.

Things that can cause burns or scalds include:

Burning yourself while cooking or using hair straighteners
Contact with fires
Contact with chemicals such as bleach
Using faulty electrical appliances
Spilling hot drinks
Getting into bath water that’s too hot

Symptoms of burns and scalds

Burns and scalds can be fairly minor and only require minimum treatment or could even be life-threatening, depending on their severity.

Superficial or first-degree burns only affect the very top layer of skin. Symptoms include blistered, sore or red skin.

Partial thickness or second-degree burns affect the first and second layers of skin. The skin may appear dark red, red and white or pale yellow. These burns are painful and can often include blisters.

A full thickness or third-degree burn goes all the way to the fat underneath the skin. Because it can destroy nerves, it may not be painful. It can appear black, white or brown and will feel dry.

How to treat burns and scalds

This is what you should do for minor burns and scalds:

Remove any clothing or jewellery from the affected area, but don’t try to remove any items stuck to the skin as this could cause further injury.
Put the affected area under cold running water for 20 minutes.
Once the area is cool, cover it with a clean plastic bag or cling film.
You can offer over-the-counter medication, such as paracetamol, for any pain.
Keep the affected area raised if possible to prevent swelling.

Now you will need to decide whether further medical help is needed. Dial triple zero (000) or go to your nearest emergency department if:

The burn is larger than the size of the patient’s hand.
The burn is of any size but deep and has resulted in charred or white-coloured skin.
The burn is on the face, neck, feet, hands, joints or genital area.
The burn is chemical or electrical in origin.
There are other injuries that need treatment.
The patient is showing signs of shock, which include clammy or cold skin, sweating, shallow or rapid breathing, dizziness or weakness.

You should also seek medical attention if the patient:

Has inhaled smoke
Is under 10 years of age
Has a medical condition such as diabetes, lung, liver or heart disease
Has a weakened immune system — for example, because they are undergoing chemotherapy or are living with a condition such as HIV or AIDS

For minor burns and scalds with no blisters or signs of broken skin, you can apply a gentle moisturiser at regular intervals until the area heals.

Complications after burns and scalds

Complications may follow serious burns and scalds, including:

Infection of the burn or scald, which can lead to infection of the bloodstream (sepsis)
Loss of fluid from the body
Critically low body temperature
Scarring of the skin
Problems with bones and joints in the area of the burn or scald

How to prevent and prepare for burns and scalds

Prevention is always better than cure. Here’s what you can do to reduce the risk of burns and scalds and to be prepared if they occur:

Keep hot liquids out of the reach of children. So, when you’re cooking, make sure that pot handles are turned inwards on the stovetop.
Unplug electrical appliances when not in use.
Ensure your house or workplace is fitted with smoke detectors and have a fire extinguisher to hand.
Wear protective clothing when handling strong chemicals.
Fit anti-scald devices to your taps and shower.
Have a well-stocked first aid kit to hand in your home or workplace. This could be a general purpose first aid kit or a minor burns first aid kit, containing items such as sterile dressings, Burnaid pads and a burns first aid card.

It’s best to be prepared

It’s best to be prepared for burns or scalds. You can find out more about preventing and treating them on the healthdirect website.

You can also be ready in case you or someone near you is affected by a burn or scald by ensuring you have a first aid kit to hand.

Inspect it regularly to know that it is fully stocked up and the contents are in good condition.

Trust MediBC to supply a wide range of first aid kits suitable for all kinds of minor injuries and illnesses.

Check out our full range of first aid kits and supplies — we specialise in high-quality kits and health and medical products to make Australia a safer place!