What is happening?

What to do

1. Ask for help and report breathing difficulty or dizziness. Rest without letting the burn touch dirty surfaces.
2. Hands, feet, major joints or burn around limb/chest: urgent help. Every burned baby/child needs medical assessment. Large/deep or uncertain severity: emergency help.
3. Smoke inhalation, mouth/nose soot, hoarse voice or facial burn: emergency help now. Fresh air only via safe route. Talking or feeling better does not exclude harm. Monitor breathing.
4. Cool the burn with cool running water for 20 minutes. Start now. Without a tap, use cool bottled water or a wet towel.
5. Remove nearby jewelry and clothing before swelling, only if not stuck. Leave stuck material in place.
6. Cool the injury, not the whole body. Keep unburned areas warm, especially in babies and older people. Tell the dispatcher about shivering or marked chilling.
7. Do not drive yourself for care. Arrange safe transport. Do not delay emergency help to finish cooling time.
8. White/brown/black or leathery skin may be deeply burned despite little pain. No poking to test. Very rapid swelling: emergency help. Do not wait for blisters.
9. After cooling, no film: loose clean non-stick dressing. Face: never film over mouth/nose. No suitable dressing: protect from dirt without delaying help. Follow dispatcher.
10. Baby/older person or extensive burn: cool injury only, keep rest warm. Shivering, very cold or less responsive: report now to adapt care. No cold bath or transport delay to finish20min.