Burn with boiling water: what to do / not to do in first aid and healing times

By Cristiano Antonino On Apr 14, 2023

The burn from boiling water is one of the most frequent domestic accidents, and knowing what to do in first aid is really useful, both for mitigating the damage while waiting for help, and for managing the anxiety that can derive from it

In depth you will find a series of articles that deal more specifically with each of the three degrees of burns, but one thing must be said immediately: in serious cases, of third degree (with necrosis of skin tissues), you must immediately go to the emergency room or call Emergency Number.

While waiting for help, the ideal is to have the patient lie down and cover him, without giving him a drink.

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First and second degree burns, the most frequent cases with boiling water

Boiling water usually tends to cause first-degree or second-degree burns.

Those of the first degree involve redness (or erythema) and cause burning and pain.

They usually heal within a week, leaving no scars.

Second-degree burns generally cause blisters (phlyctene), intense pain and burning: the more superficial ones heal in 10-15 days without leaving scars, the deeper ones heal in a longer period of time and can leave scars.

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Burns with boiling water, what to do?

The first aid is the cooling of the part, immersing it in cold water in the shortest possible time, for a quarter of an hour.

But be careful: if the burn is due to chemical substances, such as dry lime, use only physiological solution and not water.

If the injured part is quite extensive or there are blisters, skin lacerations or living flesh, it is better to go to the emergency room immediately without wasting time with do-it-yourself remedies.

Cover the burnt area with the appropriate medicated gauze or with clean, wet cotton linen.

If small children, the elderly or sick people have been burned, a doctor should always be consulted.

Any clothing in contact with the burnt part must be removed, but carefully.

Via also rings, bracelets or necklaces.

If there is a delay in healing, an infection may be developing – call your doctor.