Badly Shaved Monkey said:As I understand it, both factors are important, but as I have been taught (wanton appeal to authority!) the simple effect of getting rid of the excess heat was of long overlooked importance while the more complex benefits of cooling were being considered.
I guess the problem is that you have to formulate a simple treating advice anybody can follow.
The positive effects of removing excess heat will only be present shortly after the burn occurs, but how long this "shortly" is, is dependant upon the exact burn location and the temperature and i don't know what. E.g. if someone is pieced by a hot piece of iron, then, without any cooling the temperature height inside the wound could be for 15+ minutes too high, then the cooling effect will be more important and longer useful, than with a skin burn, where air convection does most of the job in a few minutes at most.
Therefore i guess the optimal temperature of water for treating would be a complex formula, starting with 0 or even less degree celsius the moment after burn occured, quickly rising to something like 10-15 degrees in the following minute and then slowly rising in the following hours or even days up to 20-30 degrees(which afaik can also be done with cremes).
The rule "cold, but not icy water" is the best approximation of that, that one can expect to stick to in emergency situation.