Burn first aid is what lets burned skin heal properly. A burn wound gets worse after the source of heat has stopped. The response in the moments that follow determines whether a serious burn is reduced to a minor one or whether a minor burn becomes infected. Even a serious burn can heal back to ordinary skin when the first few minutes are handled correctly.
How Serious Is the Burn? Severity at a Glance
Burn first aid changes with the depth of the injury. Burn injuries fall into one of three categories based on how many layers of skin have been damaged.
A superficial burn, also called a first-degree burn, damages only the top layer of skin. The skin appears red, dry, and painful, with no blisters. A superficial burn heals within three to six days and leaves no scar.
A partial thickness burn, also called a second-degree burn, goes through the top layer of skin and into the second layer. The skin is red, blistered, peeling, and drips a clear or yellow fluid. Pain can be sharp, and healing takes one to three weeks. Deep burns within this category may scar and need medical attention from a doctor.
A full thickness burn, also called a third-degree burn, has destroyed both layers of skin and reaches the fat or muscle underneath. The burned area looks white, waxy, leathery, or black and charred. The site may not feel painful at all because the nerve endings have been destroyed, although the unburnt skin around it still hurts. This level of damage cannot heal on its own and needs professional help and maybe even surgery.
Burn First Aid
Burn first aid follows the same opening step for any burn, regardless of its cause. Common causes of burns include heat, hot liquids, chemicals, and electricity. Start by moving the person away from the source of the burn. After that, deal with the cause; smother flames with a blanket or by rolling on the ground, turn off the power for electrical burns, or flush a chemical burn continuously with water to dilute the substance.
Cool the burn by holding the burned area under cool running water (not cold) for at least 20 minutes. Water for 20 minutes is the central step for any thermal burn. While the burned area is cooled, the rest of their body should be kept warm with a blanket. Remove any rings, watches, belts, or tight clothing from the burned area; anything stuck to the burn should be left in place.
Bandaging First Aid for Burns
The next step in burn first aid is covering the wound. The dressing keeps the wound clean, helps protect against infection, and reduces pain from air contact with exposed nerve endings.
A loose, non-stick dressing is the right cover for most burns, but plastic cling film, laid lengthways over the burn rather than wrapped around the limb is also recommended when it’s the only material available, so long as the burn is not on the face. The dressing should be wrapped loosely; a tight wrap traps swelling and can cut off blood flow.
Major Burns: When a Burn Needs Emergency Care
Major burn first aid puts the call to triple zero ahead of the cooling step. An ambulance is needed for any burn with one or more of the following features:
- More than 10% of an adult’s body, or 5% of a child’s body
- On the face, hands, feet, genitals, buttocks, or over a major joint
- Full thickness, with white, waxy, leathery, or charred skin
- Caused by chemicals, electricity, or an explosion
- Smoke inhalation, shown by hoarseness, soot around the nose or mouth, or trouble breathing
- On a child under 5, an older adult, a pregnant person, or anyone with a chronic illness such as diabetes
Enrol in First Aid Training
Burn first aid gives the best result when it is short, exact, and applied as quickly as possible after the burn. The materials are simple enough that any home already has them, and the steps are few enough to be carried out calmly. A nationally recognised first aid course gives you the chance to practice those steps before they are needed. Your prepared response is what gives a burn its best chance of healing into clean skin.
Why Does the Burn Look Worse the Next Day?
A burn often looks redder, more swollen, or more blistered 12 to 24 hours after the injury than at the time it happened. This is part of the natural inflammatory response and does not necessarily mean the burn is getting worse underneath.
How Can I Reduce Scarring from a Burn?
After the burn has fully closed, moisturising the area daily with a fragrance-free cream and applying gentle massage to the scar tissue can soften the result over time. Silicone gel sheets or strips worn for several hours each day have evidence supporting their use on partial thickness and deeper burn scars.
Is There a Helpline I Can Call for Burn Advice?
Healthdirect Australia provides 24-hour free phone health information from a registered nurse on 1800 022 222, known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria. The service can help decide whether a burn needs to be seen at home, by a GP, or at an emergency department. Calls are confidential and free.
