First Aid & Emergencies

Call 911 NOW if you are having:

Chest Pain
Difficulty Breathing
Severe Bleeding

Sudden Weakness or Numbness
A Medical Emergency

Font Size

Burns - Emergencies

Step One

Step Two

Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

Breathing stops. After calling or other emergency services, see the topic Dealing With Emergencies.

Signs of decreased level of consciousness develop, such as sleepiness (lethargy), confusion, extreme restlessness, or agitation.

Moderate to severe difficulty breathing from an airway burn or chemical fumes (smoke inhalation) develops:
- •In children.
- •In adults and older children.

Signs of shock develop:
- •In children.
- •In adults and older children.

Other serious injuries are present.

Burns extend through the skin to injure muscle and bones (fourth-degree burn).

Third-degree burns are present over more than 2% of the body.

Second-degree burns are present over:
- •More than 10% of the body of a person younger than age 10 or older than age 50.
- •More than 15% of the body of a person between ages 10 to 50.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: January 07, 2009

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.