To treat a burn of any size, apply ice directly to the area.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only for minor burns
• D. Always submerge in ice water

Answer: (C)

When treating a burn, the key idea is to avoid damaging the tissue further by cooling safely rather than freezing it. Ice placed directly on a burn can injure skin and underlying tissue, and it can constrict blood vessels, reducing blood flow needed for healing. The recommended first-aid step is to cool the area with cool running water for about 10 to 20 minutes, then cover with a clean, dry dressing. Ice and ice-water applications are not part of proper burn care for any significant burn, because they can worsen injury.

The option selected acknowledges that the problematic instruction is not appropriate for burns in general; in practice, if you had to fit the guidance to these choices, it’s viewed as acceptable only in the narrow sense of minor burns, where extreme measures like ice are more likely to cause additional harm than help. The other choices are not aligned with safe burn management: telling you to use ice for all burns is too broad, and submerging in ice water is dangerous and not recommended.