It's the last few weeks of term, the sun is out, and school is buzzing. Sports days, outdoor lessons, end-of-year trips... This time of year is brilliant, and for the most part, everyone gets through it just fine.
It also brings the kinds of first-aid incidents school staff know all too well: the pupil who has caught too much sun at lunchtime, the child who knocked over a hot drink in the dinner hall, and the Year 7 who touched something they shouldn't have in a DT lesson. Burns, scalds, and sunburn are among the most common injuries school staff deal with across the school year — and yet the first few minutes of response make an enormous difference to how well a child recovers.
The good news is that, in most cases, there is a lot school staff can do to help. A calm response, prompt first aid, and good communication with families can all play an important role in supporting a child's recovery.
In this edition of The First-Aid Room, we explore the differences between burns, scalds and sunburn, how to respond confidently when they happen, and when it is important to seek further medical help.
These three terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not quite the same thing, and understanding the difference can help first-aiders respond appropriately.
💡 Good to know:
Fortunately, while burns and scalds can look frightening, the first-aid response is generally quite straightforward. Knowing what to do in those first few minutes can help limit the damage to the skin, reduce pain, and support healing.
Burns, scalds and sunburn are all managed using very similar first aid principles. While they can look alarming, the treatment is usually straightforward. Acting quickly can help reduce pain, support healing and, in some cases, minimise long-term scarring.
If a pupil has a burn or scald, you can follow these steps in order:
1️⃣ Remove the pupil from the source of heat. Get them away from whatever caused the burn, whether that's a hot surface, steam, or a spilt drink. Do this calmly and quickly.
2️⃣ Cool the burn immediately with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes. This is the most effective first aid treatment for a burn and can make a real difference to recovery. Running water is best, as it draws the heat out of the skin. If there's no running water available, you can use cool (but not icy) bottled water.
3️⃣ Reassure the pupil throughout and explain what you are doing. Burns can be painful and frightening, particularly for younger children.
4️⃣ Remove any clothing or jewellery near the affected area. This might include items such as a school jumper, watch or ring. However, do not try to remove anything that is stuck to the burn, as this can cause further damage to the skin.
5️⃣ Keep the pupil warm. This might feel counterintuitive, but while the burn itself needs to be cooled, the rest of the body should be kept comfortable. Using a blanket or extra layers can help prevent hypothermia, particularly if the burn is large or the pupil is very young.
6️⃣ Cover the burn with clean dressing. This helps protect the area and can make it more comfortable by keeping air away from the damaged skin. If burn dressing is not immediately available, cling film can be layered over the burn as a temporary covering, as it will not stick to the burn.
📍 An easy mnemonic device to remember these steps is the "Cool, Call, Cover" method: cool the burn under running water for 20 minutes, call for help if the burn is larger than a 50p coin, and cover the affected area with a dressing.
In many cases, these simple first aid measures are enough to make a significant difference. Even when further medical treatment is needed, the care provided in those first few minutes can have a lasting impact on recovery.
A few things to avoid:
❌ Do not delay cooling the burn. Start running cool or lukewarm water over it as soon as possible.
❌ Never use ice, iced water, creams, or greasy substances such as butter, as these can make the injury worse.
❌ Do not try to remove anything that is stuck to the burn, including clothing or jewellery, as this can cause further damage to the skin.
❌ Do not use plasters or sticky dressings to cover the burn or scald.
❌ Do not burst any blisters or allow the pupil to do so. They form as part of the body's natural healing process, and bursting them can increase the risk of infection.
🎯 If you're a Medical Tracker user, you can record burns and scalds in minutes from any device, including details of the injury, treatment provided and any follow-up actions taken. Records are stored securely and can be accessed later if the pupil requires further treatment or the incident needs to be reviewed.
When to call for further help for a burn or scald in school
Many minor burns and scalds can be treated successfully in the first-aid room and monitored with parents or carers at home. However, some injuries require more urgent assessment and treatment.
Seek urgent medical advice if:
🔥 The burn or scald is larger than the pupil's hand.
🔥 The burn or scald is deep and causes white or charred skin, or the pupil cannot feel sensation in the burnt area.
🔥 If the burn or scald is located on the face, neck, hands, feet, a joint, or genitals.
🔥 If the burn was caused by a chemical or electrical source.
🔥 If the pupil shows signs of shock, such as cold or clammy skin, rapid breathing, dizziness, or weakness.
🔥 If the pupil is under five years old, as their skin is thinner and more vulnerable to serious injury.
⚠️ If you're unsure about the severity of a burn or scald, seek medical advice. When in doubt, it's always safer to treat it as serious.
Sunburn often develops gradually and can be easy to miss at first. A pupil who seemed fine at lunchtime might be red, sore and uncomfortable by the time the afternoon lesson starts.
Sunburn can be particularly uncomfortable for children, especially if they are trying to concentrate in lessons, take part in sports, or enjoy end-of-term activities. Recognising the signs early can help prevent symptoms from becoming more severe.
While fair skin tends to burn more easily, it's important to remember that children with darker skin tones can also burn and may not show the same redness, so staff should not rely on visible redness alone to assess the severity of a sunburn.
Some symptoms of sunburn to look for include:
🔥 Skin redness
🔥 Skin that feels hot or warm to the touch
🔥 A change in skin texture – skin may appear shiny, swollen, or slightly different in colour
🔥 Complaints that the skin feels sore, tender, painful or tight
🔥 Blistering, which can occur in both mild and more serious burns regardless of skin tone
For mild sunburn, you can do the following:
Contact parents and carers to let them know what has happened, what support has been provided, and whether any further care may be needed at home. In many cases, a mild sunburn will settle quickly with simple measures and a little extra care over the following few days.
🎯 If you're a Medical Tracker user, the easy-to-use parent notification system enables you to keep families notified quickly during the school day. You can also assign pupils to staff members, alerting them when a first aid incident is recorded by using automated and manual email notifications.
Some sunburns warrant more urgent attention. Seek urgent medical advice if:
☀️ A pupil's sunburn is blistering
☀️ The sunburn covers a large area of skin
☀️ The pupil has a high temperature (38°C or above)
☀️ The pupil is dizzy, has a headache, or nausea
These may be signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke, which require prompt attention.
For a refresher on sun safety in schools, we covered the topic in depth earlier last month so it's well worth revisiting.
Most burns, scalds and cases of sunburn seen in school are minor, but that doesn't mean they should be dismissed. These injuries can be painful, upsetting and, in some cases, lead to longer-term complications if they are not managed appropriately.
The reassuring news is that the first aid response is usually simple. By acting quickly, cooling burns promptly, recognising when further help is needed, and recording incidents accurately, school staff can make a real difference to a pupil's comfort and recovery.
As the summer term draws to a close and more learning takes place outdoors, keeping these simple principles in mind can help ensure pupils stay safe, comfortable and ready to enjoy everything this time of year has to offer.