How to Treat Burns from Boiling Water

Identify a situation that requires medical attention. Even minor (first- or second-degree) burns require medical attention if certain criteria are met. Burns around the entire surrounding tissue of one or more fingers require medical attention as soon as possible. This burn can impede blood flow to the finger and in severe cases may require amputation if left untreated. ^[10]

• In addition, you should seek medical attention if you have minor burns on your face or neck, extensive burns on your hands, groin area, legs, feet, buttocks, or over joints. ^[11]

Wash the burn. You can take care of minor burns yourself at home. The first step is to wash the burn by removing clothing that covers the burn and submerging the burn site in cold water. Applying cold water to the burn site can damage the skin and increase the risk of scarring or complications. Do not use hot water to avoid irritating the burn.

• Wash the burn with mild soap.
• Avoid using products with bleaching properties such as hydrogen peroxide to avoid hindering the skin’s healing process.
• If clothing is on your skin, do not attempt to remove it. The burn may be more serious than you think and you need to seek emergency care. ^{[12] [13]} Remove clothing (except for the part attached to the burn) and apply cold/ice packs to the burn and clothing for about 2 minutes.

Cool the burn. After washing, you should soak the burn in cool water for 15-20 minutes. Do not use ice or water on the burn to avoid damage to the skin. Next, dip a clean washcloth in cool water and apply it to the burn (do not rub or rub). Only put a towel over the burn.

• You can dip a towel in tap water and put it in the fridge to cool it down.
• Do not apply butter to the burn. Butter does not help to cool the burn, but it also causes an infection. ^{[14] [15] [16]}

Prevent infection. To prevent infection, you need to take care of the burn after cooling. Use clean hands or a cotton ball to apply an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin or Bacitracin. If the burn is an open wound, you can use a non-stick gauze pad instead, as cotton fibers can stick to the burn. Next, cover the burn with a non-stick bandage (eg Telfa). Change the dressing every 1-2 days and reapply the ointment.

• Do not squeeze blisters that form on the burn.
• Do not scratch the itch when young skin forms to avoid infection. Burned skin is very sensitive to infection.
• You can apply ointments such as aloe vera, cocoa butter, and mineral oil to soothe the itch.

Treat pain. Any minor burn can be painful. After you have covered the burn, you should raise the burn site higher than your heart. This helps reduce swelling and relieve pain. To relieve persistent pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Acetaminophen (Tylep) or Ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin). Take the medication several times per day while the pain persists and follow the directions on the package.

• The recommended oral dose of Acetaminophen is 650 mg every 4-6 hours, up to a maximum of 3250 mg per day.
• The recommended oral dose of Ibuprofen is 400-800 mg every 6 hours, up to a maximum of 3200 mg per day.
• Carefully read the recommended dosage on the medicine packaging because the dose can vary by type and brand of medicine.

Call an ambulance. If you suspect a serious (third- or fourth-degree) burn, call for help right away. Severe burns should not be treated at home and should be treated professionally. ^[17] Call 911 immediately if: ^[18]

• Deep and severe burns
• Burns higher than first degree and the person burned has not had a tetanus shot in more than 5 years
• Burns larger than 7.5 cm or surrounding any part of the body
• Signs of infection such as redness or severe pain, discharge from the burn site, fever
• Burns in people under 5 years old or over 70 years old
• Burns in people with weakened immune systems (difficulty fighting infections) such as people with HIV, people taking immunosuppressive drugs, people with diabetes, or people with liver disease

Care for the victim. After calling 911, you need to observe the person’s reaction. If the casualty is unresponsive or in shock, you need to let emergency personnel know what to prepare.

• If the casualty is not breathing, you can give chest compressions while waiting for help to arrive. ^[19]

Take off your clothes. While you wait for emergency care, you should remove tight clothing and jewelry on or near the burn. However, be careful to leave clothing or jewelry stuck to the burn. Removal can pull on the skin at the burn site and cause further damage.

• Apply cold compresses around metal jewelry like rings or hard-to-remove jewelry like bracelets because metal jewelry often conducts heat from the surrounding skin to the burn.
• You can cut and loosen any clothing stuck around the burn.
• Keeping the victim warm because severe burns can cause shock. ^[20]
• Unlike when treating minor burns, you must not submerge large burns in water to avoid hypothermia. If the burn is in a movable location, you can elevate the burn above your heart to prevent or reduce swelling. ^[21]
• Do not take pain relievers, do not pop blisters, rub dead skin, or apply ointments. These behaviors can affect the treatment of burns. ^{[22] [23]}