Getting first aid right can mean the difference between life and death. But as we learn more about the human body and how it responds, over the years the advice gradually changes – meaning that in some cases, what we learned in the past is out of date.

Here are some of the most common myths about first aid… and what you should do instead.

MYTH 1: Put butter on a burn

This is a folk remedy that’s been around for centuries. It even was recommended by the man widely credited with the invention of first aid, the Prussian surgeon General Friedrich Von Esmarch.

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Any new burn that’s exposed to the air is incredibly painful. Covering it with a cool substance such as butter will slightly ease the agony for a time. But the pain will soon return – and sealing off the air before the burn has cooled can keep the heat in, meaning the skin continues to burn.

For most burns, the general advice instead is to remove any clothing and jewellery touching the burn, then to run your burn under the tap for a lot longer than you think – at least 20 minutes. This prevents the skin from continuing to burn, as well as helping to numb the area.