Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCool the BurnWhen to Call 911Using Burn OintmentBurn Care

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Cool the Burn

When to Call 911

Using Burn Ointment

Burn Care

Depending on theseverity of a burn, which is based on depth and size, you might need to see a doctor or call 911. Regardless of the severity of the injury, follow these steps to immediatelytreat a burn:

Verywell / JR Bee

Immediate Steps to Take for a Burn

If an ambulance is coming, don’t stop cooling the burn with running water until the ambulance arrives.

Call 911 if there is charring (blackened skin) or blistering (bubbles on the skin) in the following areas:

Don’t be afraid to call 911 if you believe this is an emergency regardless of whether the injury matches this list or not. You are always the best judge of whether or not you need help.

How Different Degrees of Burns Are Treated

Minor burns can be treated with a topical burn ointment or spray to reduce pain. Ointments should be water-soluble.

Do not apply butter or oil to any burn. Butter or lard may feel cool because it comes out of the refrigerator, but the oils will trap heat and make the burn deeper over time.

Burns destroy skin and the loss of skin can lead to infection,dehydration, andhypothermia.

While the burn is healing, wear loose natural clothing like silks or light cotton. Harsher fabrics will irritate the skin even more.

Warning SignsMake sure that a burn patient gets emergency medical help if experiencing any of the following:Dizziness or confusionWeaknessFever or chillsShiveringCold sweats

Warning Signs

Make sure that a burn patient gets emergency medical help if experiencing any of the following:Dizziness or confusionWeaknessFever or chillsShiveringCold sweats

Make sure that a burn patient gets emergency medical help if experiencing any of the following:

Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used for the pain of a mild burn (typically redness only). If stronger pain relief is needed, call a doctor or go to the emergency department.

3 Home Remedies for Burns That Actually Work

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cuttle L, Pearn J, McMillan JR, Kimble RM.A review of first aid treatments for burn injuries.Burns. 2009;35(6):768-775. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2008.10.011Lloyd ECO, Rodgers BC, Michener M, Williams MS.Outpatient burns: prevention and care.Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(1):25-32.Shrivastava P, Goel A.Pre-hospital care in burn injury.Indian J Plast Surg. 2010;43(Suppl):S15-S22. doi:10.4103/0970-0358.70720Nielson CB, Duethman NC, Howard JM, Moncure M, Wood JG.Burns: Pathophysiology of Systemic Complications and Current Management.J Burn Care Res. 2017;38(1):e469-e481. doi:10.1097/BCR.0000000000000355Schaefer TJ, Tannan SC.Thermal Burns. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2019.Additional ReadingCancio LC, Barillo DJ, Kearns RD, et al.Guidelines for Burn Care Under Austere Conditions: Surgical and Nonsurgical Wound Management.J Burn Care Res. 2017;38(4):203-214. doi:10.1097/BCR.0000000000000368Lloyd ECO, Rodgers BC, Michener M, Williams MS.Outpatient burns: prevention and care.Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(1):25-32.Munteanu A, Florescu IP, Nitescu C.A modern method of treatment: The role of silver dressings in promoting healing and preventing pathological scarring in patients with burn wounds.J Med Life. 2016;9(3):306-315.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cuttle L, Pearn J, McMillan JR, Kimble RM.A review of first aid treatments for burn injuries.Burns. 2009;35(6):768-775. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2008.10.011Lloyd ECO, Rodgers BC, Michener M, Williams MS.Outpatient burns: prevention and care.Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(1):25-32.Shrivastava P, Goel A.Pre-hospital care in burn injury.Indian J Plast Surg. 2010;43(Suppl):S15-S22. doi:10.4103/0970-0358.70720Nielson CB, Duethman NC, Howard JM, Moncure M, Wood JG.Burns: Pathophysiology of Systemic Complications and Current Management.J Burn Care Res. 2017;38(1):e469-e481. doi:10.1097/BCR.0000000000000355Schaefer TJ, Tannan SC.Thermal Burns. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2019.Additional ReadingCancio LC, Barillo DJ, Kearns RD, et al.Guidelines for Burn Care Under Austere Conditions: Surgical and Nonsurgical Wound Management.J Burn Care Res. 2017;38(4):203-214. doi:10.1097/BCR.0000000000000368Lloyd ECO, Rodgers BC, Michener M, Williams MS.Outpatient burns: prevention and care.Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(1):25-32.Munteanu A, Florescu IP, Nitescu C.A modern method of treatment: The role of silver dressings in promoting healing and preventing pathological scarring in patients with burn wounds.J Med Life. 2016;9(3):306-315.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Cuttle L, Pearn J, McMillan JR, Kimble RM.A review of first aid treatments for burn injuries.Burns. 2009;35(6):768-775. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2008.10.011Lloyd ECO, Rodgers BC, Michener M, Williams MS.Outpatient burns: prevention and care.Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(1):25-32.Shrivastava P, Goel A.Pre-hospital care in burn injury.Indian J Plast Surg. 2010;43(Suppl):S15-S22. doi:10.4103/0970-0358.70720Nielson CB, Duethman NC, Howard JM, Moncure M, Wood JG.Burns: Pathophysiology of Systemic Complications and Current Management.J Burn Care Res. 2017;38(1):e469-e481. doi:10.1097/BCR.0000000000000355Schaefer TJ, Tannan SC.Thermal Burns. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2019.

Cuttle L, Pearn J, McMillan JR, Kimble RM.A review of first aid treatments for burn injuries.Burns. 2009;35(6):768-775. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2008.10.011

Lloyd ECO, Rodgers BC, Michener M, Williams MS.Outpatient burns: prevention and care.Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(1):25-32.

Shrivastava P, Goel A.Pre-hospital care in burn injury.Indian J Plast Surg. 2010;43(Suppl):S15-S22. doi:10.4103/0970-0358.70720

Nielson CB, Duethman NC, Howard JM, Moncure M, Wood JG.Burns: Pathophysiology of Systemic Complications and Current Management.J Burn Care Res. 2017;38(1):e469-e481. doi:10.1097/BCR.0000000000000355

Schaefer TJ, Tannan SC.Thermal Burns. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2019.

Cancio LC, Barillo DJ, Kearns RD, et al.Guidelines for Burn Care Under Austere Conditions: Surgical and Nonsurgical Wound Management.J Burn Care Res. 2017;38(4):203-214. doi:10.1097/BCR.0000000000000368Lloyd ECO, Rodgers BC, Michener M, Williams MS.Outpatient burns: prevention and care.Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(1):25-32.Munteanu A, Florescu IP, Nitescu C.A modern method of treatment: The role of silver dressings in promoting healing and preventing pathological scarring in patients with burn wounds.J Med Life. 2016;9(3):306-315.

Cancio LC, Barillo DJ, Kearns RD, et al.Guidelines for Burn Care Under Austere Conditions: Surgical and Nonsurgical Wound Management.J Burn Care Res. 2017;38(4):203-214. doi:10.1097/BCR.0000000000000368

Munteanu A, Florescu IP, Nitescu C.A modern method of treatment: The role of silver dressings in promoting healing and preventing pathological scarring in patients with burn wounds.J Med Life. 2016;9(3):306-315.

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