20-MINUTE BURNS RULE

ANYONE who seriously scalds themselves would, understandably, make a dash for A&E. Even a cup of tea or coffee that has been sitting for 15 minutes is still hot enough to burn a child’s delicate skin.

However, experts say the immediate priority, before heading to hospital, should be to douse or soak the burned skin in cold water for at least 20 minutes, to stop the burn progressing and reduce the risk of scarring.

‘You must submerge the scalded area in cold water for around 20 minutes,’ says Dr Martin Hunt, a consultant in A& E medicine at the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

‘Many patients at A&E with minor burns might benefit from proper cold water treatment at home first.’

Immersing children or the elderly with burns in a cold bath can cause heat loss and hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temperature, which can cause slurred speech, confusion and shallow breathing.

If after cooling the burn in water for halfan-hour, the injured area shows signs of blistering, this could indicate a severe burn and needs to be seen in A&E, says Dr Hunt.