Four out of five serious burns happen during leisure activities such as barbecuing and cooking, and during traffic accidents. Depending on the duration and temperature, heat can damage the skin enormously. Burns are categorized into different degrees: a first degree burn affects the epidermis, second degree damages the skin right down to the dermis. A third degree burn destroys the entire area of skin including nerves and vessels.

Don’t treat burns using household remedies

A burn which is no larger than the palm of your hand should be cooled down as quickly as possible using water which is no colder than 15 ° Celsius, for no longer than 20 minutes. Curd, yoghurt, and oil, on the other hand, do not belong on burnt skin. If the skin is so badly damaged that blisters form, you should seek medical attention immediately; if the burns extend over a larger area then a burns treatment unit may be the best option.

Seek medical advice

A case for the physician: puncture wounds – especially involving foreign objects – animal scratches and bites, large-scale burns and heavily bleeding wounds should be treated by a physician.