How To Treat A Burn: First Aid Treatment For Thermal Burns - WebMD

• First Aid & Emergencies
• Reference

• Call 911 if:
• For All Burns
• For First-Degree Burns (Affecting Top Layer of Skin)
• For Second-Degree Burns (Affecting Top 2 Layers of Skin)
• For Third-Degree Burns

Call 911 if:

• The burn penetrates all layers of the skin.
• The skin is leathery or charred-looking, with white, brown, or black patches.
• The person is an infant or a senior.

For All Burns

1. Stop Burning Immediately

• Put out the fire or stop the person's contact with hot liquid, steam, or other material.
• Help the person "stop, drop, and roll" to smother flames.
• Remove smoldering material from the person.
• Remove hot or burned clothing. If clothing sticks to the skin, cut or tear around it.

2. Remove Constrictive Clothing Immediately

• Take off jewelry, belts, and tight clothing. Burns can swell quickly.

Then take the following steps:

For First-Degree Burns (Affecting Top Layer of Skin)

1. Cool Burn

• Hold burned skin under cool (not cold) running water or immerse in cool water until the pain subsides.
• Use compresses if running water isn't available.

2. Protect Burn

• Cover with sterile, non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth.
• Do not apply butter, oil, lotions, or creams (especially if they contain fragrance). Apply a petroleum-based ointment two to three times per day.

3. Treat Pain

• Give over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Panadol, Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).

4. When to See a Doctor

Seek medical help if:

• You see signs of infection, like increased pain, redness, swelling, fever, or oozing.
• The person needs a tetanus or booster shot, depending on the date of last injection. A tetanus booster should be given every 10 years.
• The burn blister is larger than two inches or oozes.
• Redness and pain last more than a few hours.
• The pain gets worse.
• The hands, feet, face, or genitals are burned.

5. Follow Up

• The doctor will examine the burn and may prescribe antibiotics and pain medication.

For Second-Degree Burns (Affecting Top 2 Layers of Skin)

1. Cool Burn

• Immerse in cool water for 10 or 15 minutes.
• Use compresses if running water isn't available.
• Don't apply ice. It can lower body temperature and cause further pain and damage.
• Don't break blisters or apply butter or ointments, which can cause infection.

2. Protect Burn

• Cover loosely with a sterile, nonstick bandage and secure in place with gauze or tape.

3. Prevent Shock

Unless the person has a head, neck, or leg injury, or it would cause discomfort:

• Lay the person flat.
• Elevate feet about 12 inches.
• Elevate the burn area above heart level, if possible.
• Cover the person with a coat or blanket.

4. See a Doctor

• The doctor can test burn severity, prescribe antibiotics and pain medications, and administer a tetanus shot, if needed.

For Third-Degree Burns

1. Call 911

2. Protect Burn Area

• Cover loosely with a sterile, nonstick bandage or, for large areas, a sheet or other material that won't leave lint in the wound.
• Separate burned toes and fingers with dry, sterile dressings.
• Do not soak the burn in water or apply ointments or butter, which can cause infection.

3. Prevent Shock

Unless the person has a head, neck, or leg injury , or it would cause discomfort:

• Lay the person flat.
• Elevate feet about 12 inches.
• Elevate the burn area above heart level, if possible.
• Cover the person with a coat or blanket.
• For an airway burn, do not place a pillow under the person's head when the person is lying down. This can close the airway.
• Have a person with a facial burn sit up.
• Check pulse and breathing to monitor for shock until emergency help arrives.

4. See a Doctor

• Doctors will give oxygen and fluid, if needed, and treat the burn.

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