What to do if you burn yourself

Basic recommendations

Do not let children in the kitchen while you are cooking.

Some of the utensils most associated with domestic accidents:

In the kitchen:

• Frying pans - hot oil or flame caused by oil
• Pressure pots and pans - hot liquids
• Glasses, mugs and plates - due to spillage of liquids
• Microwaves - due to liquids or depilatory wax
• Oven door - by contact, especially in children

In the bathroom:

• Unblockers - Sulphuric acid
• And caustic soda mixed or combined with bleach are highly dangerous, whether due to inhalation of the mixture or due to contact on explosion.
• Hot tap water: regulate boilers to prevent the water from causing burns. 

Rest of the house:

Electricity, plug sockets, electrical extension lead, clothes iron by contact or steam.

Other most common injuries

• Motorbike exhaust pipe
• Special attention when handling firecrackers and sparklers, (especially in children)
• Burning alcohol or gasoline in barbecues.
• Colognes or sprays near sources of heat (candles) 

What to do when you burn yourself, using some of the methods below:

• It is very important to move away from the source of the burn: flame, hot water, electricity, hot solid, steam, etc.
• Cool the affected area, thus halting the spread of the heat in the skin and body tissue, preventing the injury from getting any worse. This also works in acid burns as you will dilute the product and its impregnation into body tissue. Use cold water for 10 or 15 minutes depending on the agent that caused the injury.
• Once the area is cool, there may be some redness to the skin, with more or less pain or discomfort (hot water, superficial flame, sun burn).
• It can be soothed with water or cold cloths, and by applying moisturisers.

And above all, if the burn is very painful, visit a health centre.

If blisters appear, there is loss of skin, or white or pearly blotches after cooling, you must keep the affected area covered with gauze, a towel, a sheet, etc.

If there is pain, cold water can be applied to this cover.

If the injuries only cover a small area, you should first go to a health centre. For more widespread injuries, go to the hospital accident and emergency department or 112 emergency services.

If the burn is on the face, neck, hands, major joints, groin or perineum (the area between the genitals and the anus), it should be assessed by a specialist.

Special care should be taken with children and the elderly as they may require special attention to their injuries.