If you determine that you don’t need to seek medical help, here are some tips on treating a superficial burn that only covers a small area of the body.

• Remove the person from the source of heat. If in the sun, move to the shade.
• Apply cool (not cold!) water for approximately 20 minutes. This helps reduce the pain and stops the heat from penetrating deeper into underlying tissue.
• Leave blisters intact. Breaking them can lead to infection.
• Protect the overall area from heat (including the sun) and dirt.
• Wash the burn gently with a mild soap and water, especially if a blister has burst.
• Do not apply butter or grease. Butter and grease are used to cook food – don’t cook your skin!
• Do not apply any other element to the skin. No lotions, ointments, nothing. Burned skin is very sensitive and more prone to infection.

Call your doctor if you need further information or assistance for:

• Increased pain, redness, swelling or fever
• Any burn to a child under two-years-old
• Larger or more serious burns

If you call an ambulance and are awaiting medical help for a more severe burn, follow these steps.

• Apply cool water. ONLY cool water, nothing else.
• Do not remove clothing in and around a burn. You could further damage the skin.
• You can wrap the burn in a sterile, DRY bandage, but this is not required while you await medical help.