Burn First Aid: What to Do, What Not to Do and When a Burn Needs Emergency Care

Quick answer: stop the burning, then cool the burn under cool running water for at least 10 minutes, as first aid organizations including the American Red Cross advise. Remove rings, watches and tight clothing near the burn before swelling starts, unless they are stuck to the skin. Cover the burn loosely with a sterile, non-stick dressing or clean cloth. Do not use ice, butter, oils or toothpaste, and do not break blisters. Call 911 for large or deep burns, burns to the face, hands, feet, genitals or major joints, electrical and chemical burns, burns with breathing problems and serious burns in young children or older adults.

Burns are among the most common household injuries. Hot liquids, stovetops, ovens, irons, curling irons and space heaters cause many of them, and small apartment kitchens can make spills more likely. Most minor burns heal well at home with good first aid. Serious burns need professional care quickly, and the wrong home remedy can make any burn worse.

This guide draws on first aid guidance from the American Red Cross, the American Burn Association and Mayo Clinic, along with prevention advice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). It is part of our apartment emergency preparedness guide. It is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.

Sources: American Red Cross, burn first aid steps and First Aid/CPR/AED participant materials; American Burn Association, burn center referral criteria and scald prevention materials; Mayo Clinic, Burns: First aid; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, water heater temperature and scald guidance; America’s Poison Centers, Poison Help line 1-800-222-1222; NFPA, “Stop, Drop and Roll” guidance. Checked October 2026.

Step 1: Stop the Burning

Remove the source of heat right away. Move away from the stove, turn off the appliance, or get the person away from the hot liquid or object. If clothing is on fire, the NFPA’s advice is to stop, drop and roll: stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll over and over until the flames are out.

Once the burning has stopped, remove rings, bracelets, watches, belts and tight clothing from the burned area before it swells. Do not pull off clothing that is stuck to the skin. Cut around it instead and leave the stuck part for medical professionals.

Step 2: Cool the Burn

Cooling is the single most helpful step for thermal burns. The Red Cross advises cooling the burn with cool running water for at least 10 minutes. Some international first aid organizations, including the British Red Cross, recommend up to 20 minutes. Starting quickly matters more than the exact number.

Practical tips:

• Use cool, not ice-cold, water. Tap water is fine.
• Keep cooling for the full time, even if the pain eases.
• If running water is not available, use cool, clean water in a container or cool compresses.
• Keep the rest of the person warm, especially children and anyone with large burns, since cooling large areas can cause hypothermia.

Step 3: Cover the Burn

After cooling, cover the burn loosely to protect it from air and infection:

• Use a sterile, non-stick dressing or a clean, lint-free cloth.
• Avoid fluffy cotton, which can stick to the wound.
• Plastic food wrap laid loosely over the burn, not wrapped tightly around a limb, is sometimes recommended by first aid organizations as a temporary clean covering.
• Do not tape the dressing tightly.

Step 4: Manage Pain and Watch Healing

For minor burns, Mayo Clinic notes that over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help. Follow the label directions and ask a pharmacist if you take other medications. After the burn has cooled, a gentle moisturizer or aloe vera gel can soothe minor burns.

Watch for signs of infection, such as increasing pain, redness, swelling, oozing or fever. Get medical care if they appear. Ask a doctor about a tetanus shot if you are not sure your vaccination is current, especially for deeper burns.

What Not to Do

Many popular remedies cause harm. First aid organizations agree on these:

• No ice or ice water, which can damage tissue further.
• No butter, oils or grease, which hold heat in and increase infection risk.
• No toothpaste, egg whites or other household remedies.
• Do not break blisters, which protect the skin underneath from infection.
• Do not remove stuck clothing.
• Do not apply adhesive bandages directly to blistered skin.

How Deep Is the Burn?

Burns are classified by how deep they go. The American Burn Association and Mayo Clinic describe them this way:

Type	Older name	What it looks like	Typical care
Superficial	First-degree	Red, painful, dry, no blisters, like a mild sunburn	Usually home care
Partial thickness	Second-degree	Blisters, very red, wet-looking, very painful	Small areas may be home care; larger areas need medical care
Full thickness	Third-degree	White, brown, black or leathery; may be numb	Emergency care

Deep burns can be less painful than shallow ones because nerve endings are damaged. Lack of pain does not mean a burn is minor.

The rule of palm

Medical providers estimate burn size as a percentage of total body surface area. A quick estimate uses the palm of the injured person’s hand, including the fingers, which represents roughly 1% of their body surface. A burn covering several palm-widths is a large burn.

When to Call 911 or Go to the ER

Call 911 or get emergency care for:

• Deep burns that look white, leathery, brown or charred
• Large burns, including partial-thickness burns larger than about 3 inches, according to Mayo Clinic, or covering a significant portion of the body
• Burns to the face, hands, feet, genitals, buttocks or major joints
• Burns that circle a limb, finger or the torso
• Signs of airway burns, such as burns around the mouth or nose, singed nasal hair, soot around the mouth, coughing, hoarseness or trouble breathing
• Electrical burns, even if they look small
• Chemical burns that are large or involve the eyes
• Burns in infants, young children and older adults, whose skin is thinner and who are more vulnerable
• Burns in people with diabetes or weakened immune systems

The American Burn Association’s burn center referral criteria include many of these situations, along with partial-thickness burns greater than 10% of total body surface area.

Chemical Burns

Household cleaners, drain openers, pool chemicals and battery acid can burn skin and eyes.

1. Protect yourself with gloves if available.
2. Brush off dry chemicals before rinsing.
3. Remove contaminated clothing and jewelry.
4. Flush with plenty of running water, typically for at least 20 minutes, as first aid organizations advise.
5. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance, or 911 for serious burns.

For chemicals in the eyes, rinse with lukewarm water for at least 15 to 20 minutes and get medical care. Keep the product container so you can tell responders what it was.

Electrical Burns

Electrical injuries can look minor on the skin while causing serious damage inside the body, including heart rhythm problems.

• Do not touch the person until the power source is turned off or they are away from it.
• Turn off the power at the breaker or unplug the device if you can do so safely.
• Call 911 for any significant electrical injury.
• Check breathing, and begin CPR if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.

For downed power lines, stay well away and call 911 and the utility.

Caring for a Minor Burn Over the Next Days

Minor burns usually heal within one to three weeks, according to Mayo Clinic, depending on depth. Good aftercare speeds healing and lowers the chance of infection and scarring:

• Keep the area clean. Wash gently with mild soap and water and pat dry.
• Change dressings when they become wet or dirty, or as a clinician directs.
• Leave blisters alone. If one breaks on its own, clean the area gently, and an antibiotic ointment may be applied before covering it.
• Protect healing skin from the sun. New skin burns easily and can darken. Clothing and sunscreen help once the wound has closed.
• Expect itching as the burn heals, and avoid scratching.

See a doctor if a burn is not improving after a few days, if blisters are large, or if you notice spreading redness, pus, fever or worsening pain.

Burns in Children and Older Adults

Young children and older adults burn more easily because their skin is thinner, and the same exposure can cause a deeper injury. The American Burn Association’s scald prevention materials stress how quickly hot liquids injure children’s skin.

With children, also remember:

• Small hands reach up. Tablecloths, cords from kettles and slow cookers and pot handles are common causes of spills.
• Kids may hide injuries out of fear of being in trouble. Check calmly after any accident in the kitchen or bathroom.
• Large burns cool a child’s body quickly. Cool only the burned area and keep the rest of the child warm.

Older adults may have reduced sensation, slower reaction times or mobility limits that make it harder to move away from heat. Medications and conditions like diabetes can also slow healing. Lowering water heater temperatures, using kettles with automatic shutoff and keeping walkways near the stove clear all reduce risk.

Burns in either group deserve a lower threshold for medical care. When in doubt, call a doctor or go to urgent care.

Sunburn

Sunburn is a superficial burn in most cases. Cool showers, moisturizers, pain relievers and fluids help. Severe sunburn with widespread blistering, fever, chills or confusion needs medical care, and it can occur alongside heat illness.

Preventing Burns at Home

Scalds

Hot liquids and steam are a leading cause of burns, especially in young children. The CPSC recommends setting your water heater to 120°F or lower to reduce the risk of tap water scalds. In apartments, ask management if you cannot adjust the heater yourself.

More scald prevention tips:

• Turn pot handles inward on the stove.
• Keep hot drinks away from table edges, and never hold a child while carrying a hot drink.
• Test bath water before putting a child in.
• Open microwave containers away from your face, since steam can burn.
• Create a kid-free zone of about 3 feet around the stove.

Kitchen and household burns

• Use oven mitts, not damp towels, which conduct heat.
• Keep curling irons and flat irons unplugged and out of reach when not in use.
• Give space heaters at least 3 feet of clearance from people, bedding and curtains.
• Cover unused outlets in homes with small children.

Cooking fires can also cause burns. Never throw water on a grease fire; cover the pan with a lid and turn off the heat. Our guide to using a fire extinguisher covers when and how to fight a small fire, and our apartment fire safety plan explains when to get out instead.

Stock Your Kit for Burns

Burn-ready supplies belong in every home:

• Sterile non-stick dressings in several sizes
• Rolled gauze and medical tape
• Clean scissors for cutting clothing
• Over-the-counter pain relievers
• Aloe vera gel for minor burns
• Disposable gloves
• Burn gel dressings, if you choose to include them
• A printed first aid guide

Our guide to a first aid kit for a small apartment lists the rest of the basics.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I run water over a burn?

At least 10 minutes of cool running water, as the Red Cross advises. Some organizations recommend up to 20 minutes.

Should I put ice on a burn?

No. Ice can damage the skin further. Use cool running water instead.

Should I pop a burn blister?

No. Blisters protect the skin underneath from infection. Leave them intact and cover them loosely.

When is a burn serious enough for the ER?

Deep, large or electrical burns, burns to the face, hands, feet, genitals or joints, burns with breathing problems and burns in young children or older adults need emergency care.

What should I do for a chemical burn?

Brush off dry chemicals, remove contaminated clothing and flush with plenty of running water for at least 20 minutes, then call Poison Help or 911.

The Bottom Line

Stop the burning, cool the burn with cool running water for at least 10 minutes, remove jewelry, cover it loosely and skip the ice and butter. Know which burns need emergency care, and set up your home to prevent scalds and kitchen burns before they happen.