Ice on Burns, Urine on Stings and Other Bad Advice
Here at Cataldo Training, we love the sun, and we love adventure holidays! Essential first aid training, can make a HUGE difference if your break away is even ruined with an accident, an encounter with nature that ended wrong, or just too much sun!
Imagine, you are on holiday, you are relaxed, and then someone gets hurt. It might be a small burn from a BBQ, a sting in the sea, or a nasty cut after a slip by the pool.
In those moments, people often reach for the “classic” advice they have heard all their lives. The problem is that a lot of it is wrong. Some of it can make an injury worse.
This guide is here to bust the biggest holiday first aid myths, explain what to do instead, and help you stay calm and in control if something happens.
As always in first aid, your priorities are simple:
- PRESERVE LIFE
- PREVENT DETERIORATION
- PROMOTE RECOVERY
If someone is seriously unwell or injured, CALL 999 or 112. If you are in the UK and it is urgent but not life-threatening, call 111.
Myth 1: “Put ice on a burn to cool it down”
Why it’s bad advice
Ice can damage skin further. It can cause a cold injury on top of the burn and reduce blood flow to the area, which slows healing.
What to do instead
For burns, the best immediate treatment is boring and brilliant.
DO THIS:
- COOL the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes. Do it as soon as possible. Even if it has been a while, cooling still helps.
- REMOVE anything tight near the burn (rings, watches) unless stuck to the skin.
- COVER with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy dressing. Cling film is ideal because it does not stick and keeps it clean.
- GET HELP if needed.
DO NOT:
- Put ice on it
- Apply butter, oils, toothpaste, or creams straight away
- Pop blisters
- Remove clothing stuck to the burn
When a burn needs medical help
Get medical advice if:
- The burn is larger than the injured person’s palm
- It is on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or over a joint
- The person is very young, elderly, or has medical conditions
- The skin looks white, charred, leathery, or the pain is severe
- There is any concern about breathing after smoke exposure
Myth 2: “Toothpaste or butter soothes burns”
Why it’s bad advice
Toothpaste, butter, and oils trap heat in the skin. That means the burn can continue to “cook” underneath.
They also increase infection risk.
What to do instead
Use the same simple approach every time.
- COOL for 20 minutes under running water
- COVER with cling film or a clean dressing
- MONITOR for signs of infection as it heals
- SEEK HELP if it is serious or in a high-risk area
Myth 3: “Urine helps jellyfish stings”
Why it’s bad advice
This one refuses to die. Urine can actually trigger more venom release depending on the species. It can also irritate broken skin and make you feel worse.
What to do instead
Sea stings vary, so keep it simple and safe.
Jellyfish sting basics:
- GET OUT OF THE WATER safely. Do not panic or rub the area.
- REMOVE visible tentacles with tweezers if available, or the edge of a bank card.Protect your hands if you can.
- RINSE with seawater, not fresh water, unless you have been told otherwise by local guidance.
Fresh water can trigger venom release for some species. - PAIN RELIEF: hot water immersion can help in many stings if it is safe to do.
Use hot, not scalding, water and test it first.
DO NOT:
- Pee on it
- Rub it with sand or a towel
- Use vinegar unless local guidance specifically recommends it
- Put ice directly on the skin
When a sting is an emergency
Call emergency services if the person has:
- Breathing problems
- Swelling of lips, tongue, face, or throat
- Widespread rash or signs of an allergic reaction
- Chest pain, collapse, or severe symptoms
- A sting near the eyes
Myth 4: “Suck out venom from a bite or sting”
Why it’s bad advice
Sucking venom does not work and can cause infection. It also wastes time.
What to do instead
For bites and stings:
• MOVE TO SAFETY
• CLEAN the area with clean water
• COLD COMPRESS for swelling if appropriate
• WATCH for allergic reaction
• GET HELP if symptoms escalate
If you are abroad and unsure about a bite, take a photo of the insect if safe. It can help medical professionals identify the risk.
Myth 5: “If someone is choking, hit them on the back straight away”
The truth
Back blows are only right if the airway is blocked and the person is choking.
What to do instead
First, assess quickly.
If they can cough, speak, or breathe:
• Encourage them to COUGH
• Stay with them and monitor
If they cannot breathe, speak, or cough effectively:
• Give 5 back blows
• Then 5 abdominal thrusts
• Repeat and call emergency services if it does not clear
If they become unconscious, start CPR and send someone for an AED if available.
Myth 6: “A knock to the head is fine if they seem okay”
Why it’s risky
Head injuries can worsen later. A person may look fine and then deteriorate.
What to do instead
Treat head injuries with respect.
WATCH for red flags:
• Loss of consciousness, even briefly
• Persistent headache or worsening pain
• Vomiting
• Confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech
• Seizure
• Blood or clear fluid from nose or ears
• Unequal pupils
• Weakness or numbness
• Severe neck pain
If any red flags appear, get urgent medical help. If the person fell from a height or has neck pain, minimise movement and call emergency services.
Myth 7: “RICE is always best for sprains”
What people mean
Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.
The reality
These principles can help early on, but the key is sensible management and knowing when it might be more than a sprain.
DO THIS:
• REST from painful activity
• ELEVATE when you can
• COMPRESSION can reduce swelling if not too tight
• COLD compress can help with pain
GET IT CHECKED if:
• The person cannot weight-bear
• There is obvious deformity
• Pain is severe
• Swelling is immediate and significant
• You suspect a fracture
Myth 8: “If someone is dehydrated, drink loads of water quickly”
Why it’s not ideal
Gulping large amounts can cause vomiting. If someone has been sweating heavily, they need fluids and salts.
What to do instead
- Sip water little and often
- Use oral rehydration salts if available
- Rest in shade
- Cool the person down with wet cloths and airflow
Heat exhaustion signs:
- Headache, dizziness, nausea
- Heavy sweating, clammy skin
- Weakness and cramps
Heatstroke is an emergency:
- Confusion, collapse, seizures
- Very hot skin
- Rapid breathing
- Call emergency services immediately and cool them aggressively while you wait.
Myth 9: “Alcohol cleans wounds”
Why it’s bad advice
It damages tissue and delays healing. It also hurts, which makes people less cooperative when they need care.
What to do instead
For cuts and grazes:
- APPLY PRESSURE if bleeding
- RINSE with clean running water
- REMOVE debris gently if you can
- COVER with a sterile dressing or plaster
- MONITOR for infection
If bleeding will not stop with firm pressure, seek medical help.
Holiday First Aid in Practice
A candidate (Tom) who had recently completed a First Aid course had been for a short break to Malaga, Spain. Just after their arrival, while waiting for their baggage, there was a shout for help a few feet away. A passenger had collapsed to the floor and was assessed as unresponsive and not breathing. Tom quickly took charge of the situation and CPR was immediately started. An AED was summoned, and when it was switched on, it became apparent that the verbal instructions were in Spanish.
Tom had learned on the prior course how to operate a defibrillator using very little reliance on the verbal prompts as well as experimenting with using equipment in various other languages, including Spanish.
This ensured that all of the responders remained calm and administered a successful shock which restored the patient’s heart rhythm. This enabled the emergency services to swiftly transport the casualty to hospital where, following treatment, they were released and had a full recovery!
Here at Cataldo Training Ltd, our First Aid courses include AED training as standard. You will get plenty of instruction as well as hands-on experience in using the equipment. And yes, that includes the Spanish version!
Your holiday first aid kit, the realistic version
You do not need a suitcase full of equipment. You do need the basics.
Consider packing:
• Plasters in a few sizes
• Sterile dressings and a roll of bandage
• Antiseptic wipes
• Tweezers
• Medical tape
• A triangular bandage (very useful)
• Burn dressing or cling film
• Oral rehydration salts
• Gloves if possible
• Any personal medication, plus spares
• Allergy meds if you are prescribed them
And the most underrated item:
• A charged phone with local emergency numbers saved
The bottom line
Holiday first aid is mostly about keeping things simple and not making it worse.
When someone gets hurt:
• STOP and assess
• Do the basics well
• Do not rely on myths
• Get help early if you are unsure
If you want real confidence, training is what changes everything. It turns panic into a plan, and it gives you a clear set of steps to follow when it matters.
If you want, I can also turn this into a “holiday first aid” companion piece with quick action cards for burns, stings, choking, bleeding, and heat illness so it reads like a practical guide you can skim on your phone.