Burns and scalds first aid: what to do step by step
Hot water, fire, chemicals or electricity. Below: what to do right away, what next, when to call 112 and what to avoid. The same instructions are in the free SurvivalZone app and work without internet.
First, right now
- Stop the source: put out burning clothes (stop, drop and roll, or smother with a blanket), move away from the heat, and with an electrical burn switch off the power first.
- Cool the burn straight away under cool running water, not ice-cold, for at least 20 minutes.
- While cooling, remove jewellery, watches and clothing from the burnt area before it swells. Leave anything stuck to the skin.
Then
- After cooling, cover the burn loosely with cling film (lay it on, do not wrap it tightly) or a sterile dry dressing.
- With a large burn and with small children, cool only the burnt area and keep the rest of the body warm to avoid hypothermia.
- Chemical burn: wearing gloves, remove contaminated clothing and rinse the skin with plenty of water. Chemical in the eye: rinse with clean water for 10–20 minutes and go to the emergency department.
- You can give a painkiller following the leaflet.
When to call 112
The burn is bigger than the person's hand, deep (white, grey or charred skin), on the face, hands, feet, genitals or joints, caused by electricity or chemicals, or the person was in smoke (possible airway burn). Also for small children and older people.
What not to do
- Do not use ice, butter, oil, toothpaste, flour or creams.
- Do not burst blisters.
- Do not pull off clothing stuck to the skin.
- Do not touch someone who has had an electric shock until the power is off.
See also
Frequently asked questions
How long should I cool a burn?
For at least 20 minutes under cool running water, starting as soon as possible. The water should be cool, not ice-cold.
Can I put butter, oil or toothpaste on a burn?
No. These keep heat in the skin and raise the risk of infection. Use water, then cling film or a sterile dressing.
When does a burn need a doctor?
When it is bigger than the person's hand, deep, on the face, hands, feet, genitals or joints, caused by electricity or chemicals, and always for small children.
Keep it on your phone
SurvivalZone is a free app for every emergency, with no account and no app store. It works without internet and shows the nearest shelters and help points, local radio, a 72-hour plan and a mountain trip planner.
Thank you for reading. If this could help someone, send it to the people you care about. Getting ready takes a moment, and in a crisis every minute counts.
Coming soon: the app’s permanent address will be survivalzone.app.
Other scenarios
- ⚡ Power cut
- 🥶 Cold, no heating
- 🚱 No water or unsafe tap water
- 🌊 Flood, water coming in
- 🎒 Evacuation in 10 minutes
- 🔥 Fire in the building
- 🌡️ Heatwave
- 🌪️ Storm, strong wind
- 🚀 Air attack: missiles, drones, bombs
- 📢 Sirens, alarm, air contamination
- 📵 No signal, no internet
- ❤️ Someone is unconscious
- 🌍 Earthquake
- ⛵ Storm at sea, no internet
- 🚗 Road accident
- ☠️ Carbon monoxide or gas leak
- ❄️ Stuck in a car in a snowstorm
- 🌩️ Thunderstorm outdoors
- 🫀 Heart attack or stroke
- 🏊 Someone is drowning
- 🌲 Forest or grass fire
- 💳 Cards and cash machines not working
- 🦠 Epidemic, dangerous infectious disease
- 🧒 A child is missing
- 🫁 Choking
- 🩸 Severe bleeding
- 😷 Smog and poor air quality
Sources
- ERC Guidelines 2021: First aid (Resuscitation, 2021)
- ILCOR 2025: First Aid Consensus on Science (CoSTR)
- NHS 111 Wales: Burns and scalds
- Medycyna Praktyczna: burns in children, first aid (in Polish)
- aponet.de: burns, cooling with running water (German)
Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-10-22.
General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.