No, ice water is generally not recommended for burns. While research suggests that cooling burns with ice water (below 4°C) might be beneficial, current first aid guidelines strongly advise against it due to the risk of hypothermia and potentially deepening the burn injury. Instead, cold water (8-25°C) is the recommended method for cooling burns.
Why Ice Water is Discouraged for Burns
Using ice water on burns can lead to several complications:
- Hypothermia: Exposing a large burn area to ice water can significantly lower the body's core temperature, leading to hypothermia.
- Deepening the Burn: The extreme cold can cause further damage to the tissue, potentially worsening the burn.
Recommended First Aid for Burns: Cold Water
| Action | Recommendation | Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling the Burn | Use running cold water. | 8-25°C |
| Duration of Cooling | Continue for 20 minutes. |
Reference: Current first aid recommendations advise using cold water (8-25°C) to cool burns, discouraging the use of ice/ice water to avoid hypothermia and deepening the existing burn injury.
