How to treat a burn
Learn the basics of burns and how best to treat them
![A dad treats his toddler's injury with a bandage A dad treats his toddler's injury with a bandage](https://images.ctfassets.net/hkmafl6harxv/3c0HncJtdksu0ZMDNc5Blr/fd2064421292b2896f4bc9353166984b/burn2.jpg?w=600&h=338&f=center&fit=fill&q=100&fm=avif)
![A dad treats his toddler's injury with a bandage A dad treats his toddler's injury with a bandage](https://images.ctfassets.net/hkmafl6harxv/3c0HncJtdksu0ZMDNc5Blr/fd2064421292b2896f4bc9353166984b/burn2.jpg?w=600&h=338&f=center&fit=fill&q=100&fm=avif)
Most of us have experienced a burn at some point, whether it’s a dry burn (from fire), a wet burn (from hot water or steam), a chemical burn, electrical burn or even a sunburn – we can all agree that even small burns can be incredibly painful.
But did you know burns are among the most serious injuries causing Aussies to be hospitalised? With 45% of burn cases caused by hot drinks, food and cooking oils, it’s essential that we know how to prevent and treat them.
We spoke with President of the Australian & New Zealand Burn Association (ANZBA), Jeremy Rawlins, to find out what constitutes a burn, common causes and which burn treatments are best.
What is a burn?
On a technical level, burns are a form of skin damage causing skin cells to die and results in blistering damage to variable layers of the skin. In more severe cases, it can also cause damage to the underlying muscles and bones.
“A burn is an injury usually caused by heat or flame that causes damage to the skin and, in severe cases, to deeper tissues too,” says Jeremy.
“Other causes of burns include hot liquids (scalds) – which are the most common cause of burns in children; chemicals (acids and alkalis); electrical injuries; radiation injuries; and cold injuries (frostbite).”
![A middle-aged woman treats her husband's injury on his arm A middle-aged woman treats her husband's injury on his arm](https://images.ctfassets.net/hkmafl6harxv/1W5ishrHvm6ASCwlFZEeuV/75eef37f1e29b1ec295e322ec31352a0/burn.jpg?w=600&h=338&f=center&fit=fill&q=100&fm=avif)
What are the common causes of burns?
With so many different types of burns, there are many causes. However, the most common type of burn – scalds – can often be prevented by simply being cautious.
“The most common burn injuries in Australia are scalds injuries,” says Jeremy. “These are by far the most common injury we see in children and are usually caused by hot drinks and the kettle being accidentally spilt.”