How to Treat a Dry Ice Burn

Dry ice is used for a variety of reasons. It can be used to keep items cool, in science experiments and to create a fog effect. When handling dry ice, you must always take safety precautions. Wear protective gloves and eyewear so the dry ice doesn't burn your skin or get in your eyes. Even with protective gear, accidents may happen. If you find you've been burned with dry ice, follow a few simple procedures as quickly as possible to treat the dry ice burn.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Clean cloths
• Antibiotic ointment
• Gauze bandages
• Medical tape

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Soak the area burned by dry ice with tepid water. Continue to flush the area for several minutes.

• 2

  Blot the area with a clean cotton cloth. Check your skin to assess the extent of the burn. If you have blistering, see a doctor right away. If the skin is just red, proceed to the next step.

• 3

  Apply antibiotic ointment liberally to the burned area.

• 4

  Use sterile gauze pads for your burn.

  Lay a gauze bandage over the burn that has been treated with the antibiotic ointment. Make sure the bandage extends beyond the outer edges of the burn.

• 5

  Affix the gauze bandage to your skin using medical tape.