(http://www.homeofpoi.com/articles/First_Aid_for_Burns.php)

If you are engaging in any type of fire play you should prepare in advance: large bowl of water, dry and wet (not soaking) towel, and ensure that long hair is tied back as well as any loose clothing which may ignite.

Burns fall into 3 basic categories as stated below. Most burns you are likely to encounter within BDSM play would be 1st or maybe 2nd degree burns.

1. First Degree Burns A first-degree burn is caused by brief exposure to heat. In a first-degree burn, the skin is intact, but red and the burned area is painful. Fire/ ice play would usually fall into this category. 2. Second Degree Burns A second-degree burn is caused by prolonged exposure to heat or very high temperatures. In a second-degree burn, the skin may be intact or it may appear to be partially peeling. It may also appear moist or have a mottled appearance. Any burn with blisters is second degree. 3. Third Degree Burns A third degree burn is the most serious type of burn and is caused by prolonged exposure to very high temperatures. In a third-degree burn, the skin is burned through its full thickness. The tissues underneath the skin may show through. The edges of the burn are frequently charred. (Fig. 3) The centre of the burned area may not be painful because the pain receptors in the skin have been destroyed along with the skin.

Regardless of the class of burn, the first thing to do is to STOP THE BURNING! Get the heat source away from the skin and extinguish any flames. Use a wet towel to put out any burning toys that may be tangled and near the skin and work to remove any hot metal from the skin as quickly as possible. Once the heat source is removed, examine (but do not touch!) the burned area to assess the class of burn.

• For First Degree Burns

  If you have identified the burn as first degree, immediately immerse or run the burned area under cold water. A garden hose works nicely. This forcibly lowers the temperature of the burned skin and stops the burn from getting any worse. Most first aid books say that this should last 15 minutes, but I believe that 5 minutes is sufficient to lower the temperature of the skin to the point where the burn will not get any worse. Please do not use ice. After the skin has been cooled, do not apply lotions or salves. Leave the skin uncovered and dry. Most first-degree burns resolve after 1-2 days. For pain relief while the burn is healing, put cold, wet cloths on the burned area and use ibuprofen every 6 hours as directed on the package. * For Second Degree Burns

  If the skin is intact (not peeling) then either immerse the burn or run the burn under cold water for at least 5 minutes to stop the burning. After the skin has been thoroughly cooled, you may apply an antibiotic ointment or cream such as Savlon, Iodine, or (“Neosporin”). Do not try to burst the blisters.

  The burn will usually resolve with minimal to no scarring within 7-14 days, although it may take as long as three weeks. Once the blisters burst on their own, try to trim off the dead skin with fine scissors. This is painless and helps to prevent infection. For pain while the burn is healing, put cold, wet cloths on the burned area and use acetaminophen (“Tylenol”) every 4-6 hours or ibuprofen (“Motrin” or “Advil”) every 6 hours as directed on the package.

  If the skin is broken do not immerse in water as this can lead to infection. Cover the burn in a clean, dry dressing (gauze works nicely) and go to the nearest emergency room. * For Third Degree Burns

  After removing the heat source, cover the area in a clean, dry dressing. If there is clothing stuck to the burn, do not try to remove it. Because victims of even relatively small third degree burns can go into shock suddenly, call an ambulance rather than taking the victim to the emergency room if at all possible. Third degree burns are notorious for getting infected and prompt medical treatment is required. Failure to receive prompt medical attention can result in gangrene, loss of a limb, or sepsis (infection of the blood, which is often lethal

You should seek immediate medical attention: If a blister is greater in diameter than 2 inches (4-5 cm), if a total burn is larger in surface area than about the size of a deck of playing cards, for any burn involving a break in the skin (including all third-degree burns), if the burn involves the face or genitals, and if the burn is an electrical or chemical burn

You should visit your doctor / hospital: If a burn starts to look infected (red, painful, swollen, warm). However, if an area of redness appears around a burn and spreads over a period of several hours, go to an emergency room as this may signify a serious and life-threatening infection. Also, call your doctor if the burn does not seem to be improving after 10 days or you feel the burn is getting worse.

Remember: When in doubt, seek medical attention for a burn. Burns are complicated medical injuries and may require very advanced care for severe cases.