Abstract Burns are common and often preventable soft tissue injuries. They can vary from mild scalds to life-threatening full-thickness skin necrosis. Following effective basic first aid the priorities of care are a secured airway, fluid resuscitation, excision of the eschar, analgesia, nutrition and meticulous infection control. Patients at extremes of age with multiple co-morbidities have the highest mortality. Other factors increasing the risk of death include burn size, burn depth and the presence of inhalational injury.