Burns First Aid: Treating Flame Burns and Scalds Step by Step

Burns first aid works best when it starts within seconds. Dry burns come from flames and hot objects, while wet burns, called scalds, come from hot liquids and steam. In both cases, prompt cooling, protective covering and the right call for medical help limit the damage and reduce pain. This guide sets out the steps, the mistakes to avoid and the situations that need an ambulance.

Burns First Aid: 7 Steps

1. Make it safe. Remove the person from danger and switch off the source. If clothing is on fire, tell them to stop, drop and roll, or smother the flames with a blanket or coat.
2. Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cool running tap water for 20 minutes, ideally within the first three hours. If the person begins to shiver, stop cooling the rest of the body and keep them warm. Do not use ice or iced water, which can deepen the injury.
3. Remove jewellery and loose clothing from around the burn before swelling starts, while cooling. If clothing is stuck to the skin, leave it and cut around it.
4. Cover the burn. After cooling, apply a clean, non-fluffy, non-stick dressing, or lay clean cling film loosely over the burn lengthways. Do not wrap it around a limb.
5. Raise the burned limb to reduce swelling.
6. Manage pain and warmth. Keep the person warm, and follow the label if you give pain relief.
7. Get help. Call the ambulance for any serious burn, using the criteria in our guide to burn assessment.

Burns First Aid for Scalds

Scalds from hot drinks, kettles, cooking oil or bath water are common in toddlers. Remove wet clothing quickly because it holds heat against the skin, but do not pull away anything stuck to the burn. Cool for 20 minutes, cover loosely and seek medical advice for any scald larger than the child’s hand, or on the face, hands, feet or genitals. Cooling babies and small children carries a risk of chilling, so keep the rest of the body covered and warm while you run water over the burn.

Burns First Aid: What Not to Do

• Do not apply butter, oil, toothpaste, creams, powders or home remedies.
• Do not break blisters, because they protect the raw skin underneath.
• Do not remove clothing that is stuck to the burn.
• Do not use ice, iced water or frozen packs.
• Do not use fluffy cotton wool or adhesive dressings directly on the burn.
• Do not give anything to eat or drink if the burn is serious.

When to Call an Ambulance

Call for urgent help if the burn is deep, larger than the person’s palm, on the face, hands, feet, genitals or a joint, caused by chemicals or electricity, or if the person has breathing difficulty, is a young child or older adult, or shows signs of shock. See our guides to chemical burns and inhalation burns.

Burns First Aid for an Unconscious Person

Check the scene is safe, clear the airway and follow the DRABC primary survey. If breathing, cool burns where you can while keeping them in the recovery position, and call for help. Start CPR if breathing stops.

Burns First Aid Training and Prevention at Work and Home

Use guards on hot equipment, turn pot handles inward, set water heaters to a safe temperature, keep kettles out of reach of children and train staff in burns first aid. Workplaces with hot work, cooking or steam should keep clean running water or a safety shower nearby and a stock of non-stick dressings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I cool a burn?
For 20 minutes with cool running water, as soon as possible after the injury.

Should I put cling film on a burn?
Yes, after cooling, laid loosely lengthways over a clean burn. It is clean, non-stick and lets you see the burn without removing it.

Is it safe to use ice on a burn?
No. Ice can cause further tissue damage. Use cool running water.

References and Further Reading

• NHS, Burns and scalds
• American Heart Association and American Red Cross, Guidelines for First Aid

Last updated: November 2026
Prepared by: EHS Guidelines Editorial Team

This article is general educational information and is not a substitute for accredited first aid training or professional medical care. In an emergency, call your local emergency number immediately. Emergency numbers, medicines and protocols differ between countries, so follow local guidance.

Related Guides

• Burn Assessment: Rule of Nines, Burn Depth and Serious Burns
• Shock First Aid: Recognising Circulatory Shock and Acting Fast
• First Aid for Wounds: A Wide-ranging Guide