First aid: burns
Cool it for 10 minutes. No ice, no butter.
Call 911 if
- It's an electrical or chemical burn
- The skin looks charred, or the burn is large and deep
- Trouble breathing after smoke
What to do
- Run cool, not cold, water over it for about 10 minutes.
- Take off rings, bracelets or tight clothing before it swells.
- Cover loosely with a burn gel dressing or a nonstick pad.
- Don't pop blisters. Give a pain reliever if needed.
See a doctor or urgent care if
- It's bigger than the person's palm
- Blisters are large or it looks white or leathery
- It's on the face, hands, feet, groin or over a joint
- It's a burn on a baby or young child
In every Nurse in a Box kit: a burn gel dressing, nonstick pads, gauze and tape, with a registered nurse a tap away if you're not sure what to do.
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General first aid information based on guidance from the American Red Cross, Mayo Clinic, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC. It isn't medical advice and doesn't replace care from a nurse or doctor.