A burn is considered a medical emergency if it involves the following types or conditions:

• Third-degree burns (full thickness), which damage all layers of the skin and possibly underlying tissue. These burns often look charred, blackened, white, dry, or leathery, and require immediate medical attention regardless of size or location.
• Burns that cover a large area, generally larger than 3 inches (about 8 centimeters) or more than 10% of the body surface, especially in children or elderly.
• Burns on critical areas such as the face, hands, feet, genitals, neck, major joints, or those that encircle a limb.
• Burns caused by chemicals, electricity, or explosions, as these can cause deep tissue injuries and systemic effects.
• Burns accompanied by difficulty breathing, which may indicate airway injury from smoke or heat inhalation.
• Burns that show signs of infection, such as oozing, increased redness, swelling, fever, or foul-smelling discharge.
• Burns causing rapid swelling, severe pain, or burns with a dry, leathery texture.
• Burns on infants, older adults, or people with medical conditions like diabetes or weakened immune systems should be treated as emergencies even if the burn appears minor.

In any of these cases, calling emergency services or seeking immediate hospital care is critical. For smaller, superficial burns like minor first- degree burns, medical care may not be immediately necessary but watch for worsening symptoms.