At a glance
- Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes as soon as you can.
- Never put ice, butter, grease or powder on a burn.
- Leave small closed blisters alone; they protect the burn from infection.
- Call 911 for a large deep burn, breathing trouble after smoke, or a child who is hard to wake.
- Burns on the face, eyes, hands, feet, genitals or a joint need a doctor right away.
- Electrical and chemical burns always need a medical exam.
- Most small burns heal at home: red ones in about a week, blistered ones in 2 to 3 weeks.
First aid for a burn
- Move your child away from the heat and put out any smoldering clothing with water.
- Hold the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes.
- Remove clothing from the burned area unless it is stuck to the skin; if stuck, cut around it.
- Do not rub the burn or put ice, butter, grease, mustard or powder on it.
- Cover it loosely with sterile gauze, a non-stick dressing or a clean dry cloth.
- Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain if needed.
- For a chemical burn, rinse the chemical off with plenty of water, then call Poison Help or your pediatrician.
Burn first aid
- Stop the burningAway from the heat; put out smoldering clothing.
- Cool for 20 minutesCool running water; no ice.
- CoverLoose, clean, non-stick dressing; leave blisters closed.
- CheckUse the list below to decide if a doctor is needed.
How deep is the burn?
Burns can look milder at first than they turn out to be. Have a doctor look at any burn you are unsure about.
Gentle washing with water helps healing; use soap only if the burn is dirty, since soap can slow healing.
| Type | What it looks like | Healing |
|---|---|---|
| First-degree | Red and painful, no blisters, like a sunburn | Hurts about 2 days, peels in about a week |
| Second-degree | Blisters, red and very painful | Usually 2 to 3 weeks |
| Third-degree | White or charred skin | Needs a doctor now; over 2.5 cm (1 inch) may need a skin graft |
When to get help now
Call 911 or your local emergency number for a large second- or third-degree burn, breathing trouble after a face burn or smoke, or a child who is hard to wake or confused. Go to the emergency department or a doctor now for:
- A burn on the face, eye or eyelid, hands, feet, genitals or over a joint.
- A burn that goes all the way around an arm or leg.
- White or charred skin in the center of the burn.
- Any electrical or chemical burn, or a burn from an explosion or gunpowder.
- Coughing after being near fire or smoke.
- Severe pain that is not better 2 hours after pain medicine.
- A blistered burn in a child who has never had a tetanus shot.
- Signs of infection: spreading redness, red streaks, swelling or tenderness.
Burns: when to get help
- Call 911Large deep burn, breathing trouble after smoke, hard to wake or confused.
- See a doctor nowFace, hands, feet, genitals, a joint, all around a limb, white or charred skin, electrical or chemical.
- Call within 24 hoursBlister ½ inch (12 mm) or larger, or tetanus shot due.
- Home careSmall red burn or small closed blisters: cool, cover, pain medicine.
Call the doctor within a day
- A blister ½ inch (12 mm) across or larger.
- A last tetanus shot more than 10 years ago, or more than 5 years ago if the burn is dirty.
- A burn in a baby or a very fussy young child.
- A burn that has not healed after 10 days.
Preventing burns at home
- Set the water heater so the hottest tap water is no more than 120 °F (48.9 °C).
- Never carry your child while holding a hot drink or hot food.
- After microwaving, stir food well or let it stand for 2 minutes before serving.
- Put screens around fireplaces and heaters, and keep lighters and candles out of reach.
- Install smoke alarms, with at least one on every floor.
- Lock up chemicals and flammable liquids.
Common questions
Should I put ice on a burn?
No. Cool tap water is what helps; skip ice and home remedies such as butter or toothpaste.
Should I pop a burn blister?
No. An unbroken blister works like a natural bandage that keeps germs out.
How long should I run water over a burn?
About 20 minutes for a heat burn, starting as early as possible.
When does a child’s burn need the ER?
Go for large or deep burns, burns of the face, hands, feet, genitals or joints, and any electrical or chemical burn.
How long does a burn take to heal?
A sunburn-like burn peels within about a week; one that blisters usually needs 2 to 3 weeks.
Does my child need a tetanus shot for a burn?
Possibly. Call within 24 hours if the last dose was over 10 years ago, or over 5 years for a dirty burn.
Sources
- AAP — Burn (symptom checker)
- AAP — Burn Treatment & Prevention Tips for Families
- American Burn Association — Guidelines for Burn Patient Referral
Written for Pedemy in our own words from the sources above; checked October 2026. For education only, not medical advice. Pedemy is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the organizations cited.