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First aid for burns and scalds

Cool a burn under cool running water for 20 minutes, as soon as possible. Nothing else you can do helps as much. Not butter, not toothpaste and not ice. Twenty minutes feels long, so use a timer.

Burns are among the commonest serious injuries in South African homes, and children under five are most at risk.

What to do

1. Stop the burning. Move the person away from the heat. Turn off the stove or the power.
2. Cool the burn under cool running tap water for 20 minutes. Cooling still helps if you start up to about three hours after the burn. If there is no tap, pour water from a jug or use a cool shower.
3. Remove rings, watches and tight clothing from the area before it swells. Do not pull off clothing that is stuck to the burn. Cut round it.
4. Keep the rest of the person warm, especially a child.
5. Cover the burn loosely with cling film laid on in strips, or with a clean, non-fluffy cloth. A clean plastic bag works for a hand.

What not to do

• Do not put butter, oil, toothpaste, egg, flour, honey or cream on a burn. They trap heat and cause infection.
• Do not use ice. It damages the skin further.
• Do not burst blisters.
• Do not use cotton wool or plasters.

When to get medical help

The casualty's own palm, with the fingers together, is about 1% of their body surface. Go to a clinic or hospital for:

• any burn on a baby, and any burn on a child bigger than a small coin;
• any burn bigger than the casualty's palm;
• any blistered burn bigger than a small coin, and any deep burn;
• burns on the face, hands, feet or genitals, or over a joint;
• burns that go all the way round a limb or the body;
• chemical and electrical burns;
• burns in older people, pregnant women and people with diabetes.

Call 112 or 10177 for large burns, for any burn with breathing problems, and for signs of shock. Keep cooling while you wait.

Clothing on fire

Stop, drop and roll. Stop the person from running, get them to the ground, and roll them or smother the flames with a heavy blanket or coat that is not synthetic. Then cool the burns for 20 minutes.

Smoke

Suspect smoke inhalation if the person was in an enclosed fire and has soot round the nose or mouth, a hoarse voice, a cough or difficulty breathing. Get them into fresh air if you can do so safely, and call 112 or 10177 even if they seem well. The airway can swell later.

Chemical burns

Put on gloves, brush off any dry powder, and remove contaminated clothing. Rinse with plenty of running water for at least 20 minutes. Do not try to neutralise the chemical with vinegar or anything else. For an eye, hold it open and rinse for 15 to 20 minutes, then get to a clinic. The Poisons Information Helpline is 0861 555 777.

Electric shock

Do not touch a person who is still in contact with electricity. Switch off at the plug or the main board first. For fallen power lines and other high voltage, stay at least 18 metres away and call for help. Anyone who has had more than a tiny shock should see a doctor.

Preventing burns at home

• Turn pot handles inwards and use the back plates.
• Keep kettles and their cords at the back of the counter.
• Run cold water into a child's bath first, then add hot.
• Never fill a paraffin stove while it is lit or hot.
• Never leave a candle burning unattended.

This guide is based on Chapter 6 of First Aid for Families. It does not replace a first aid course.