A child burns several fingers during a cooking activity. The immediate action is to

• A. Immerse the fingers in cool water
• B. Apply butter or ointment
• C. Wrap the fingers in a dry bandage
• D. Continue with the activity

Answer: (A)

Immediate first aid for a burn is to cool the affected area quickly with cool running water. This step helps draw heat away from the skin, slowing tissue damage and reducing pain. Do this for about 10 to 20 minutes, using cool—not ice-cold—water to avoid further injury. After cooling, you can loosely cover the area with a clean cloth or nonstick dressing to protect the skin.

Avoid applying butter or ointment, as these can trap heat, introduce bacteria, and complicate assessment. Wrapping the fingers in a dry bandage isn’t ideal right away either; if you must cover, use a clean, nonstick dressing rather than a tight dry wrap. And continuing with the activity would mean ignoring the burn and potential danger, so take a moment to care for the child and stop the activity until the burn is managed.