BURN-FIRST-AID-ERR-001 emergency life_safety ai_generated true

AI tells a user to apply butter or ice to a burn, which is a dangerous first-aid myth that can worsen tissue damage

ID: emergency/ai-says-burns-should-be-treated-with-butter-or-ice

Also available as: JSON · Markdown · 中文
90%Fix Rate
92%Confidence
1Evidence
2023-09-18First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
Red Cross First Aid 2023 active — — —
WHO Burn Guidelines active — — —
iOS 17 First Aid App active — — —
Android 14 Burn Care active — — —

Root Cause

The AI repeats a common but dangerous folk remedy; butter traps heat and can cause infection, and ice causes vasoconstriction and further tissue damage; the correct first aid is cool running water for 20 minutes (20°C/68°F).

generic

中文

AI重复了一种常见但危险的民间疗法；黄油会锁住热量并可能导致感染，冰块导致血管收缩并进一步损伤组织；正确的急救是用凉水冲洗20分钟（20°C/68°F）。

Official Documentation

https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/first-aid/first-aid-kits/burn-care

Workarounds

  1. 95% success For a thermal burn, immediately run cool (not cold) tap water over the burn for at least 20 minutes. Do not use ice, butter, or any ointments. After cooling, cover loosely with a sterile non-stick bandage or cling film. 
    For a thermal burn, immediately run cool (not cold) tap water over the burn for at least 20 minutes. Do not use ice, butter, or any ointments. After cooling, cover loosely with a sterile non-stick bandage or cling film.
  2. 85% success If cool running water is not available, immerse the burn in a bowl of cool water (20°C/68°F) for 20 minutes, or use clean, cool wet cloths changed frequently. 
    If cool running water is not available, immerse the burn in a bowl of cool water (20°C/68°F) for 20 minutes, or use clean, cool wet cloths changed frequently.
  3. 90% success For chemical burns, remove contaminated clothing and flush the burn with copious amounts of cool water for at least 20 minutes while calling poison control (1-800-222-1222 in the US). 
    For chemical burns, remove contaminated clothing and flush the burn with copious amounts of cool water for at least 20 minutes while calling poison control (1-800-222-1222 in the US).

中文步骤

  1. For a thermal burn, immediately run cool (not cold) tap water over the burn for at least 20 minutes. Do not use ice, butter, or any ointments. After cooling, cover loosely with a sterile non-stick bandage or cling film.
  2. If cool running water is not available, immerse the burn in a bowl of cool water (20°C/68°F) for 20 minutes, or use clean, cool wet cloths changed frequently.
  3. For chemical burns, remove contaminated clothing and flush the burn with copious amounts of cool water for at least 20 minutes while calling poison control (1-800-222-1222 in the US).

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. Tell user to apply toothpaste or egg whites to the burn 90% fail

    These substances are not sterile and can introduce bacteria; they also do not cool the burn effectively and may need to be scrubbed off later, causing pain.

  2. Advise user to pop any blisters that form 95% fail

    Blisters protect against infection; popping them exposes raw skin to bacteria and delays healing.

  3. Suggest using a cold compress or ice pack directly on the burn 85% fail

    Ice causes frostbite on the damaged tissue and reduces blood flow, leading to deeper injury; cool water is safer.