First Aid Education
Accidents can and do happen, and if they do, the quality of the first aid treatment provided immediately after the incident has a big impact on recovery outcomes for the patient.
Whatever the type of burn, the first aid response is the same.
Place the burn area under cool running water for 20 minutes.
This emergency treatment will reduce the injury size and depth and might be the difference between a burn that needs hospital admission, surgery and scar management, and a burn that requires none of these.
Remember, cool the burn and warm the patient.
Make sure the burn area is kept cool, while the patient stays warm, particularly if they are experiencing shock.
To find out more burn first aid tips, access the Foundation’s first aid poster for burns and watch Professor Fiona Wood share practical advice on preventing burns in children and delivering effective burn first aid.
Video: Dr Fiona Wood on Burns and Scalds