Most small kitchen, curling iron and hot-water burns can be treated without an emergency room. The first step is simple: cool the burn under cool running water. At Urgent Care Center of Westmont in Westmont, IL, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, our team can check how deep a burn is, clean and dress it, and tell you how to care for it at home.
Some burns are not minor. Large, deep or chemical and electrical burns, and burns on the face, hands, feet, groin or major joints, need emergency care. The guide below, based on MedlinePlus and NHS advice, helps you tell the difference.
We also treat other minor injuries: see sprain and fracture evaluation, bee sting treatment and cuts and lacerations.
MedlinePlus describes a minor burn as a first-degree burn anywhere on the body, or a second-degree burn less than 2 to 3 inches wide. Burns larger than that, and all third-degree burns, are major burns.
The provider will look at the size, depth and location of the burn and ask how it happened. Then they will decide whether it can be cared for here or needs a specialist or emergency department.
Watch for signs of infection as the burn heals: more pain, spreading redness, swelling, warmth, pus or fever. If you notice any of these, return for a recheck.
Call 911 for burns about the size of your palm or larger, deep burns with white, leathery or charred skin, chemical or electrical burns, burns with smoke inhalation, or signs of shock such as pale, clammy skin and fast breathing.
Burns on the face, hands, feet, groin, buttocks or over a major joint need emergency care. MedlinePlus advises immediate evaluation for burned children under 5 and adults over 55. Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke signs or severe bleeding.
Other injury care at our clinic:
People come to us for burn care from nearby towns, including:
Live closer to home? See our urgent care page for Westmont, IL.
Walk-ins are welcome at both of our locations: the main clinic at 29 N Cass Ave, Ste A, Westmont, IL 60559, and our second location inside Jewel-Osco at 4 E Ogden Ave, Westmont, IL 60559. Both are open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Call (630) 324-6825, or check in online before you arrive.
We accept most major plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield (PPO), BCBS Advocate Good Samaritan (HMO), Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, Meridian and CountyCare. Coverage varies, so please call to confirm your plan. Read more on our cost and insurance page.
No insurance? Self-pay patients get flat, upfront pricing, with a general visit from $125. Ask about the price of any tests before they are done. See self-pay urgent care pricing.
No. MedlinePlus and the NHS both advise against ice. Use cool running water instead, then cover the burn with a clean dressing.
No. Leave blisters alone. They help protect the skin underneath. If a blister breaks, keep the area clean and covered.
A first-degree burn anywhere, or a second-degree burn smaller than 2 to 3 inches, is usually minor. Deep burns, larger burns and burns on the face, hands, feet or groin need emergency care.
Possibly. Burns can break the skin. Your provider can check when you last had a tetanus shot and whether you need one.
Sources: MedlinePlus: Burns, NHS: Burns and scalds.
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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