First Aid & Wound Care

Cool the burn straight away under cool or lukewarm running water for at least 20 minutes, then remove any jewellery or clothing near the burn (unless it is stuck) and cover it loosely with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy dressing. Do not use ice, butter, toothpaste or creams, and get medical help for burns that are large, deep, on the face, hands or genitals, or on a baby or child.

Do not burst a blister from a burn, as the skin underneath protects against infection - cover it loosely with a non-stick dressing and let it heal. If a blister is large, very painful, or bursts and looks infected (increasingly red, swollen or weeping), see your pharmacist or GP.

Clean your hands, then rinse the cut under running water, press with a clean pad to stop any bleeding, pat it dry and cover with a plaster or dressing. Keep it clean and change the dressing as needed; see your GP if it is dirty, will not stop bleeding, or shows signs of infection.

A cut may need medical attention if it is deep, gaping open, longer than about 5cm, will not stop bleeding after 10 minutes of pressure, or is on the face - and always for animal or human bites, or dirty wounds. If in doubt, go to an urgent care centre or A&E, as stitches usually need to be done within a few hours.