Question
This afternoon, my child’s foot was burned by boiling water. At that time, I quickly had the child soak in cold water, but I was worried and didn’t know how long to soak for. Can you keep soaking in water after a burn?
Answer
Fresh burns and scalds can be used to cool the wound, preventing residual heat from damaging deeper skin tissues and reducing pain. When the pain subsides, there’s no need to soak for a long time. After a burn, immediately remove clothing and socks, and soak the undamaged wound in cold water for half an hour, then rub the wound with sesame oil and rapeseed oil. For second-degree burns with large blisters, use a sterilized needle to break the edges of the blisters and rinse with water. After applying burn ointment, you can wrap and tighten the blisters appropriately. For third-degree burns, cover the wound with clean fabric and seek medical attention promptly. Do not apply purple medicine water or ointment to the wound, as this may affect disease observation and treatment.