Okuzeka
Emergency Medicine & First Aid vocabulary · Burns, Fractures and Sprains

Scald

Meaning in emergency medicine & first aid, with examples

/skɔːld/nounCommon term

In emergency medicine & first aid, scald means: A burn caused by hot liquid or steam, such as boiling water, hot tea or cooking oil.

In Turkish: haşlanma, sıcak sıvı yanığı

How it is used

Scalds are among the most common burns in young children, often from hot drinks or bath water. 'Scald' is also a verb: 'She scalded her hand.' Clinicians record the liquid, the time and the area affected.

Example sentences

  1. Toddler with a scald to the chest from a cup of tea.

  2. He scalded his arm while draining pasta.

Common collocations

  • scald injury
  • hot drink scald
  • bath water scald
  • scald your hand
  • burnDamage to the skin and the tissue under it caused by heat, flames, hot liquids, chemicals, electricity or radiation.
  • full-thickness burnThe deepest type of burn, which destroys all layers of the skin and may reach fat, muscle or bone; the area can look white, leathery or charred.
  • dressingA sterile pad or covering placed directly on a wound to protect it, absorb blood and help it heal.

More terms: Burns, Fractures and Sprains

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.