When to send someone to the hospital:
- Chemical and electrical burns
- Large or deep burns – any burn bigger than their hand
- Burns that cause white or charred skin – any size
- Burns on the face, hands, arms, feet, legs or genitals that cause blisters
Burns and Scalds:
- Get the person away from the heat source to stop the burning
- Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes – don't use ice, iced water, or any creams or greasy substances such as butter
- Remove any clothing or jewelry that's near the burnt area of skin- but don't move anything that's stuck to the skin
- Make sure the person keeps warm – by using a blanket, for example, but take care not to rub it against the burnt area
- Cover the burn by placing a layer of cling film over it
- Use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain
- If the face or eyes are burnt, sit the person up as much as possible to reduce swelling
Acid/Chemical Burns:
- Call 112
- After calling 112, to help prevent severe injuries from a chemical burn:
- Carefully remove the chemical and any contaminated clothing. Use gloves to cover hands and, if possible, carefully cut away clothing. Do not wipe the skin as this may spread contamination
- Rinse the affected area using as much clean water as possible