Slovak Paramedics Warn: Cool Water, Not Ice, Is the Right First Aid for Burns

Slovak emergency medical services are reminding the public of the correct first aid response to burns as the outdoor grilling and barbecue season gets underway. Paramedics stress that the immediate treatment for a burn should be cooling the affected area with cool — not cold — running water, and that ice should never be applied directly to a burn. Ice can cause additional tissue damage by restricting blood flow and causing frostbite on already injured skin. Rescue workers also highlighted a less obvious hazard associated with grilling and campfire cooking: smoke inhalation, which can irritate the airways and pose a serious risk, particularly for children and people with respiratory conditions. The warnings come as warmer weather draws more Slovaks outdoors for recreational cooking activities, which emergency services say is a period that typically sees a rise in burn-related call-outs.