Burns from fire Guide

Suffering burns from hot water is possibly the most common burn occurrence within the home and occurs more frequently than we would like to admit. It is however important to be aware of the various factors to consider when we self-diagnose burns caused by hot water as well as the proper methods for treating these, especially with children.

Medical Expert ensures that if you need to consult a professional for a second opinion or for treatment options to reduce the pain, recovery period and minimise the chance of scarring, you can enjoy free private medical treatment.

Burns from Hot Water in the Home

Although hot water can easily burn the skin, because of the temperature difference between hot and boiling water, it usually takes hot water a longer time to cause severe burns on the skin, as compared to boiling water. Typically, hot water is within the temperature range of 50-55 degrees (Celsius) and would take around 5-10 seconds of direct contact with the skin to burn it.
For this reason these burns are usually milder, such as first degree burns, but are very common within the household. Young children however, can still suffer severe burns from water at this temperature and all precautions should be followed to ensure their safety around hot water in the home.

Effects of Hot Water Burns

As hot water burns tend to be less severe, the effects are usually limited to those associated with first degree burns. This may include:

  • Mild pain
  • Redness on the skin
  • Slight swelling of the affected area

If you think the symptoms are more severe than this, or the burns cover significant areas on the body, it is best to consult a medical professional for further diagnosis and treatment.

Types of Free Private Medical Treatment for Burns from Hot Water

You may not be aware of it, but you could be eligible for free private medical treatment if you are currently residing in one of Medical Expert’s areas of coverage. This can give you and your family members access to a wide variety of medical care and treatment for injuries such as burns on the skin or burns from hot water.

First Aid for Boiling Hot Burns

If the pain does not subside within a few minutes or the burn area stays red and forms blisters, you should probably seek professional medical attention. If the burn seems less serious you may use the following home remedies for burns:

  • Apply some cream or Vaseline to sooth the affected skin area
  • Wrap the affected area with a gauze or bandage- not too tight
  • A mild sedative can be taken to relieve pain
  • The dressing or gauze should be changed daily, with some time allowed for the skin to breathe
  • Apply some lukewarm or cold water to the old bandage or gauze before removing it to avoid sticking to the skin

Home Remedies for Hot Water Burns

Burns should only be considered okay to treat at home if there is only very mild pain being experienced with some redness on the skin. These are typically first-degree burns. Also, this should only be done if the size of the burn is smaller than the palm of your hand.
There are some tried and tested home remedies which could prove very useful, these may include:

  • Running cool water over the burn for 15-20 minutes
  • Cool compress the burned area with a cool and clean damp cloth for intervals of 5 minutes, unless the skin becomes irritated
  • Apply soothing balms such as aloe or anti-bacterial cream
  • Application of honey has been shown to assist burns with healing

Contact Us to Find out More about Free Private Medical Treatment

If you are suffering from a burn injury caused by hot water, you could qualify for free private medical assistance. Give us a call to discuss your available medical options and treatments. Our trained and qualified staff will gladly assist you with determining your eligibility and answering any questions you may have.