First things first, call 9-1-1 if…
… the burn goes through all layers of your skin.
… the skin looks leathery and has turned white, black or brown.
… there are other wounds or injuries to the burned area.
After calling or determining that you don’t need to…
1. Make sure that the burn source is dealt with to eliminate further injuries
- If there is an active flame on something or someone, put it out. Stop, drop and roll or use a fire extinguisher or sand to put out the fire.
- If the burn was from an object or liquid, get it out of the way or find a way to safely cut off the flow of the liquid.
2. Remove clothing or jewelry around the burned area
- Burns can swell quickly, so constrictive clothing or jewelry can cause loss of blood flow or other issues if not removed.
- If clothing has attached to the burned area, cut or tear around it to mitigate skin removal.
3. Cool the burned skin
- For light burns, place under cool running water or apply a compress if running water is unavailable.
4. Protect the burn
- Cover the burned area with non-adhesive bandages or gauze to minimize risk of infection
- Apply petroleum-based burn ointments to help with healing, but avoid other creams, lotions or oils.
5. Deal with the pain
- Cool running water or cold compresses should help with some of the immediate pain.
- Once burn is covered, give the victim over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatories like Tylenol, Advil or Aleve if the pain persists.
See a Doctor if the burn shows signs of infection like oozing, further swelling, or if the victim has a fever or if the pain gets worse over time.