Heat Safety – How to Prevent and Treat Burns




1. Pay attention to your cooking


2. Be patient



3. Know how different materials respond to heat



4. Be aware of the heat sources in your kitchen



5. Be prepared






Most burns are only minor, and you can easily treat them at home.

As soon as you’ve turned off the heat, the first thing to do with any burn is to try and cool it down. The best way to do this is with clean, slow-running water, such as from a tap or shower. It’s best not to use ice directly on the skin, and try to make sure it’s just the area around the burn you’re cooling. You should spend at least 10 minutes cooling the burn before you do anything else.

It’s tempting to put cream on a burn to try and soothe it, but this actually does more harm than good. You may also want to cover the wound to keep it clean, but any kind of fabric or plaster can stick to the burn and make it worse. The best thing to use to cover a burn with is actually a clean piece of clingfilm, although doctors can prescribe specialised types of plasters for burns.


If you’re worried your burn might be more serious, here are 5 questions to ask yourself:

1. What caused the burn?

If the burn was caused by something electrical or a harsh chemical, you will need medical attention. But most of the time in the kitchen you’ll be dealing with simple burns caused by hot water or cooking equipment

2. Is there anything on/in the burn?

If there is anything stuck on (or even in) the burn, don’t try and remove it yourself. You need to get medical help, otherwise you can actually cause more damage.

3. How big is the burn?

Any burns bigger than the injured person’s hand should be checked out by a doctor. Remember that everyone’s hands are different sizes, and be extra careful in treating small children and infants.

4. Where is the burn?

Kitchen burns are most likely to affect your hands, but there is still a risk to the rest of your body. If you’ve been burned somewhere sensitive (like your face or your crotch), you might want to get it checked out by a doctor.

5. Is there blistering or black or white discolouration of the skin?

These are signs that the burn is more serious. It may have gone through the top layer of your skin, so it might not hurt as much as a shallow burn, but it definitely needs medical attention.


Everyone, please take care in the kitchen and look after yourselves!

This post draws on my own lab safety training and first aid experience, as well as the references below. While I make every effort to provide accurate information, I am not a medical professional. If you’re worried about your health, please consult with a licensed medical professional. :





1 thought on “Heat Safety – How to Prevent and Treat Burns”

Leave a Reply


WordPress.com Logo


Google photo


Twitter picture


Facebook photo


Connecting to %s