Use of Running Tap Water as an Initial Treatment in Patients With Scald Burns

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: First aid methods can be better understood by clinical events than by experimental studies. We retrospectively investigated how clinical outcomes were influenced by type of first aid method.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed patient medical records from January 2024 through January 2025 in the Baskent University burn center. We included only outpatients with scald burns (N = 340) in our study. All patients were examined and managed by the same 2 staff burn surgeons. We compared data from patients who were admitted on day 1 of injury and later and compared patients treated with and without cold running water. All patients had standard burn wound management.

RESULTS: Wound healing time was reduced in patients who received appropriate first aid (cold running water) versus incorrect or no first aid (P < .05), including in all age groups examined (pediatric, adult, and geriatric groups) (P < .05). In patients who received appropriate first aid, numerical pain scores recorded during day 1 follow-up examinations were found to be lower (P < .05). Among patients who presented to the burn center on the first or second day postinjury, healing times were shorter than for those who presented later (P < .05). Patients who received appropriate first aid (vs incorrect or no first aid) had fewer debridement and graft surgery procedures (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS: Despite its retrospective design, our study emphasized that first aid methods affected clinical outcomes and showed that inappropriate burn wound management in the first 24 hours could negatively affect healing time. Education for prevention of burns and first aid for burns are crucial steps in these accidents. Cooling of wounds reduces further damage, morbidity, and mortality. Effective first aid methods in burns must be easy and fast for practicability.