During the busy holiday season, many people find themselves in the kitchen more than usual. Whether you’re an experienced chef, or getting back in the kitchen for the first time all year - accidents can happen. Burns are some of the most common cooking injuries, and cases tend to spike during the holiday season. If you suffer a minor burn, don’t fret. Keep reading to learn more about when a burn requires medical care and tips for at-home care.

If you suffer a minor burn this holiday season, it can be difficult to find last-minute care options. At AFC Urgent Care Cortez, our walk-in clinic is open 7 days a week. Our dedicated medical providers are available to provide your family with quality care this holiday season. Simply walk into the clinic!

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How to Tell if a Burn Needs Medical Care

We all have experienced the frustration of grabbing a hot pot or pan because we weren’t paying attention while cooking. Burns can be incredibly painful, and they can happen in a million different ways. If you find yourself suffering a burn, here are some things to consider that suggest you should seek medical treatment for a burn:

• You burnt yourself on a dirty surface: If there is food on the surface that burned you, it could get in the burn and cause an infection.
• The burn is on a joint: burning the skin over a joint can make it incredibly difficult to heal a burn. Joints are very mobile, which will cause the skin to stretch and move. This could reopen your burn wound over time and lead to infection.
• The burn is very large: if the burn is more than 3 inches long, you may need medical care.
• The burn is numb: this usually means that you have a 3rd degree burn which will require medical treatment

How to Treat a Burn At Home

If your burn is smaller than 3 inches and none of the criteria provided above applies to your injury, your burn may not need medical care. However, it is still important to know that burns are very prone to infection. This means that understanding the proper care tips for healing a burn at home is essential to preventing infection and ensuring that your burn heals properly.

Consider these tips to promote healing for minor burns:

• Run the burn under room temperature or cool water immediately: this will stop the burn from progressing
• Cover the burn with petroleum jelly: this will help it stay clean and moist during the early healing stage
• Allow the burn to breathe after a couple of days: covering the burn can protect it from dirty surfaces, however, it generally is a good idea to allow your burn to breathe for proper healing
• Don’t pick at it: if your burn blisters or scabs, it is important not to touch it. Reopening the wound could increase your risk of infection
• Seek medical care for any signs of infection: this includes oozing puss, swelling and redness around the burn

It is important to stay aware of your surroundings when you’re in the kitchen to prevent burns. Keep small children away from the kitchen to prevent accidents and don’t socialize while cooking so that you can focus on what you’re doing. When in doubt, visit AFC Urgent Care Cortez for same-day urgent care for minor burns!

Walk Into AFC Cortez for Same-Day Care for Minor Burns

If you suffer a burn this holiday season, don’t panic. Most minor burns can be treated at home by following a few simple steps. If you do think your burn needs medical care, AFC Urgent Care Cortez can help. Our walk-in clinic offers same-day care for minor burns. Get peace of mind by seeking care for your burn at AFC Urgent Care Cortez. Our clinic makes it easy to get same-day care this holiday season, simply walk into the clinic when it’s convenient for you. We’re open 7 days a week and accept most medical insurance plans! Walk-in today.