What is the proper first aid for a thermal burn sustained while cooking?

First Aid for Cooking Burns

Immediately cool the burn with cold tap water (15-25°C) for at least 5-20 minutes as soon as possible—this is the single most important intervention that reduces pain, swelling, tissue damage, and speeds healing. 1, 2

Immediate Actions (First Minutes)

• Remove jewelry immediately from the affected area before swelling occurs to prevent constriction and vascular compromise 1, 2
• Continue cooling until pain is relieved—this intervention reduces the depth of injury and may reduce the need for surgical excision and grafting 1
• Never apply ice directly to the burn as this causes tissue ischemia and further damage 1, 2
• Avoid butter, oil, or home remedies—these are harmful and have no therapeutic benefit 2, 3

Important Cooling Caveats

• For small burns, cooling is safe and beneficial 1
• For large burns, limit cooling duration to prevent hypothermia, especially in children 2, 3
• Monitor children closely during cooling for signs of hypothermia 2, 3

Treatment Based on Burn Severity

For Minor/Superficial Burns (Red, Painful, No Blisters)

After cooling:

• Apply petrolatum-based antibiotic ointment (bacitracin, Polysporin, or triple-antibiotic ointment) in a thin layer 1, 4, 2
• Alternative topical agents that are reasonable: honey or aloe vera 1, 2
• Cover with a clean, non-adherent dressing such as Xeroform, Mepitel, or clean gauze 1, 4, 2
• Give over-the-counter pain medication (acetaminophen or NSAIDs like ibuprofen) for pain control 1, 2, 3

For Burns with Blisters (Partial-Thickness)

• Leave blisters intact—this improves healing and reduces pain 1
• Loosely cover with a sterile or clean non-adherent dressing while awaiting medical evaluation 1
• Do not break blisters as this increases infection risk 2

When to Seek Immediate Medical Care

Call 911 or go to the emergency department if:

• Burns involve the face, hands, feet, or genitals—these require specialized care to prevent permanent disability 1, 2, 3
• Burns cover >10% body surface area in adults (>5% in children)—roughly equivalent to the size of the person's palm representing 1% 1, 2, 3
• Any full-thickness burns (white, charred, or leathery appearance) 2, 3
• Signs of inhalation injury: facial burns, difficulty breathing, singed nasal hairs, or soot around nose/mouth 1, 3
• Burns appear infected (increasing redness, swelling, pus, fever) 4, 2, 3
• Severe pain not controlled with over-the-counter medications 2, 3

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

The most critical error is delaying cooling—every minute counts in limiting tissue damage 1. Other mistakes include:

• Applying ice directly (causes additional tissue injury) 1, 2
• Using home remedies like butter or oil (no benefit and may worsen outcome) 2, 3
• Breaking blisters (increases infection risk) 2
• Underestimating burn severity—when in doubt, seek medical evaluation 1, 2

Special Considerations for Cooking Burns

Grease burns are particularly common during holiday cooking and often involve hot oil spills or ignition of cooking grease 5. These burns:

• Frequently affect children when grease is spilled in the kitchen 5
• Can cause both superficial and deep injuries depending on temperature and duration of contact 5
• Are largely preventable through kitchen safety measures 5

The key principle: cool first, cover second, and seek help for anything beyond minor superficial burns.