How long should hot water immersion last at minimum?

• A. 5 minutes
• B. 60 minutes
• C. At least 20 minutes
• D. 2 minutes

Answer: (C)

Cooling a burn with cool running water is essential because it removes heat from the skin, slows tissue damage, and reduces pain. For a hot-water burn, the minimum cooling time should be at least 20 minutes; this duration is long enough to curb heat spread and limit the depth of injury. Shorter times, like 5 minutes or 2 minutes, don’t remove enough heat and can lead to more severe burns. Extending cooling to an hour isn’t more beneficial and can introduce unnecessary risks, especially for children. If running water isn’t available, use a clean, cool cloth to cover the area and continue cooling as long as possible, but never apply ice. After cooling, loosely cover with a clean dressing and seek medical care for larger burns or those on the face, hands, feet, joints, or genitals.