First-aid tips for treating minor burns

Posted: Apr 14 2023

Minor burns are one of the most common injuries that occur in the home, so it’s important to know how to properly treat them. We’ve worked with St John SA to bring you this first-aid treatment plan.

Minor vs severe burns

A burn is considered minor if it is less than the size of a 20 cent piece and on a part of the body other than the airways. It will be red and have no, or only a small amount, of blistering.

If a burn is severe, call 000 immediately. A severe burn will be deep, have patches of white, black or yellow and cause the skin to turn dry and leathery. A severe burn is one that is larger than a 20 cent piece or occurs to the airways.

What to do if a burn occurs

If you or someone you are with experiences a burn, as soon as possible cool the injured area by holding the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes.

If you don’t have access to cold running water, a container of cool water can be used to immerse the burned area. This will need to be refreshed if the water warms up.

Remove any clothing and jewellery from the burned area, unless it is stuck.

Once the burn has cooled

To protect the burn and promote healing after it has cooled, cover the burn with a light, loose, non-adherent dressing. Plastic cling film works well in you don’t have any other clean, lint-free dressings. Ensure the dressing extends beyond the burn site.

Monitor for shock

If the patient becomes pale, with cold and clammy skin they might be going into shock. Call 000 for an ambulance.

While waiting for help to arrive, lay the patient on their back and wrap them in warm blankets.

15% off first-aid training with St John SA

Members get 15% off select St John SA public first-aid training courses.

Learn more

Posted: Apr 14 2023

Disclaimer

The information contained here is of a general nature and does not take into account your personal medical situation. The information is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or used for therapeutic purposes. Should you require specific medical information, please seek advice from your healthcare practitioner. Health Partners does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided. While we have prepared the information carefully, we can’t guarantee that it is accurate, complete or up-to-date. And while we may mention goods or services provided by others, we aren’t specifically endorsing them and can’t accept responsibility for them.

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