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If someone needs immediate help with severe burn, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A burn covers a large area, looks white or charred, or goes deep into the skin. The person may be in severe pain or shock.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112. Cool with running water 20 minutes. Cover loosely. Keep warm.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Burn bigger than the person's open hand, or on face, hands, feet, groin, or joints.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — White, leathery, or black charred skin.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person pale, shivering, confused, or breathing fast — shock.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Large burns cause massive fluid loss and shock. The body may fail even if the person is still awake.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Deep burns may look pale, waxy, or charred and can hurt less because nerves are destroyed.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stop the burning — remove from heat, smother flames, switch off electricity.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 or 108. Say severe burn, size and location.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cool under running lukewarm (not icy) water for 20 minutes — keep unburned skin warm.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Remove rings, watches, and belts before swelling.
When and how to get professional help.
Large burns, burns on face/hands/joints, or charred skin always need emergency care.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cool, cover, and call. Do not pop blisters, apply home remedies, or remove stuck clothing.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say: "Severe burn. Approximate size. Location on body. Person conscious / breathing."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All severe burns need emergency hospital care — burns units when available.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT use ice, toothpaste, butter, ghee, or oil on burns.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT pop blisters.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT peel off clothing stuck to the burn.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Butter or ghee soothes burns and helps healing
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Fats trap heat in the tissue and increase infection risk. Cool running water is the correct first step.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Acid attack
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Acid or corrosive liquid was thrown deliberately on a person, usually face and body, causing burning pain and chemical burns.
Chemical skin burn
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Acid, alkali, cleaning product, or industrial chemical contacted the skin causing pain, redness, or tissue damage.
Chemical in eye
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Chemical, cleaning product, or unknown liquid splashed into an eye causing burning, redness, and tearing.
Child scald
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A child was scalded by hot bath water, spilled cup, or cooking pot. Children's skin burns more severely than adults.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — After cooling, cover with clean dry cloth or cling film loosely — not tight.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Deepening burn injury and infection under the coating.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ice is better than water for cooling
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ice damages burned skin further and can cause hypothermia in large burns.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tissue damage and shock from extreme cold.