A moment’s contact with a hot pan, boiling water or steam can cause a painful injury, but knowing what to do immediately afterwards can make a significant difference to recovery.

Health and safety training specialists at High Speed Training are encouraging households and workplaces to understand the basic first aid needed to treat burns and scalds safely.

Although the two injuries have different causes, the immediate treatment is largely the same, with cooling the affected skin the most important first step.

Dr Richard Anderson, Director of Learning at High Speed Training, explained:

“Burns and scalds are painful injuries caused by heat damage to the skin.

“Depending on their severity, both burns and scalds can be identified by red skin, peeling skin, blisters and swelling, or even white or charred skin in more serious cases.

“Minor surface burns and scalds can be treated using appropriate first aid knowledge at home or in the workplace.

“However, more severe burns will require immediate medical attention.

“There is a key difference between burns and scalds.

“A burn is caused by dry heat, such as a hot surface, fire or the sun, where a scald is caused by wet heat, such as steam, boiling water or hot liquid.”

Burns can also result from electricity or corrosive chemicals, while scalds commonly occur when someone spills a hot drink, handles boiling water or comes into contact with steam.

The severity of an injury depends on how deeply the skin has been damaged, with superficial burns generally causing redness and pain while deeper injuries can produce blistering, swelling or changes in skin colour.

In particularly serious cases, damaged skin may appear white, blackened or leathery, and the absence of pain does not necessarily mean the injury is minor.

The NHS advises that burns and scalds should be cooled under cool running water for 20 minutes as soon as possible after the injury.

Any loose clothing or jewellery near the affected area should be removed before swelling develops, but anything stuck to the skin must be left in place.

Once cooled, the burn can be covered loosely with cling film or a clean plastic bag, taking care not to wrap the material tightly around the injured area.

Ice, butter, creams and greasy substances should never be applied to a fresh burn, and any blisters should be left intact.

It is also important to keep the injured person warm without covering the affected skin directly, particularly when treating children or older people.

Severe or deep burns, electrical injuries and chemical burns require emergency medical attention, while burns affecting sensitive areas such as the face or genitals also warrant immediate hospital assessment.

Dr Anderson said:

“Remember, if the casualty has received a severe, deep burn, a chemical burn or an electrical burn, you should contact the emergency services immediately for further medical care.

“Keep the casualty calm and reassured until the emergency services arrive.

“Burns and scalds can be very painful injuries and are often caused by accidents with hot surfaces and liquids.

“Whether the burn occurs at home or in the workplace, it’s important to have the right first aid knowledge so you know how to respond and treat the burn or scald quickly and appropriately.”

Anyone uncertain about the seriousness of a burn should seek medical advice, and parents should obtain professional guidance when a baby or child suffers a burn or scald.

The message from health professionals is straightforward: act quickly, cool the injury properly and recognise when medical help is needed.