Theory Mastery

Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling

What the exam asks here: 'As cold as possible, for as long as possible' feels logical — more cooling seems like more relief.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 12 questions

The trap

Many learners think: You cool a burn as long and as cold as possible — the colder and longer the water, the better.

The rule is: Cool the wound for ±10 minutes with lukewarm, gently running water and prevent hypothermia. Ice-cold water and cooling indefinitely are not in the book

Challenge

'As cold as possible, for as long as possible' feels logical — more cooling seems like more relief. The book, however, gives a precise, moderate protocol: one temperature, one duration. Overdoing the cooling actually does the victim a disservice.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling

The model

Cool a burn for ±10 minutes with lukewarm water, always leave blisters intact (Book p.176). For a bleeding wound: at least 10 minutes of direct pressure (Book p.175). For material damage only: photos, name/plate, witnesses, fill in the accident report form together (Book p.177).

Read this section on its own page: The model: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling

Core

For a bleeding wound, press directly on it immediately and for at least ten minutes; if an object is stuck in it, don't remove it, but press on either side of it instead. Call 112 for severe or unstoppable bleeding, an object in the wound, deep or penetrating wounds, wounds with fractures, or (impending) shock. You recognise shock by pale, clammy skin, thirst and restlessness, and weakness — protect against cooling, but never give food or drink, even if the victim asks for it. In a fire, cover the flames as fast as possible (blanket or coat, roll on the ground) or extinguish with water. Burns come in three degrees: first-degree is red and painful, second-degree the same plus blisters, third-degree is grey-white or charred black — and it is precisely then that the spot itself stops hurting, only the surrounding area does. Cool any burn for ±10 minutes with lukewarm, gently running water, never ice-cold, and prevent hypothermia. Remove clothing, but always leave blisters intact: don't pop them, no burn ointment. Cover with sterile dressing or a clean cloth; approved burn gel (>90% water) may also be used as a heat conductor. Fractures are not life-threatening and need no acute emergency aid. For an open fracture, treat it like a bleed: cover the wound, don't bind it, and don't try to straighten it. For material damage only, handling comes last: photos of the situation, the other party's name and licence plate, witnesses' contact details, and filling in the European accident report form together — on paper or via an app. Police often don't attend small accidents, or only to keep traffic flowing; only with deaths, injuries or major material damage does the police draw up an official report. Only your insurance company can request that report, not you yourself.

Read this section on its own page: Core: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling

Why it matters

Cooling too aggressively or popping a blister can actually worsen or infect a burn; forcing a fracture can damage nerves or blood vessels that were undisturbed until then. And anyone who skips the accident report form after sheet-metal damage only because 'we agree anyway' is left without proof weeks later if the other party remembers it differently.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling

Active recall

In a kitchen accident at a holiday cottage near Tilburg, someone gets a burn with clear blisters. How do you cool the wound?

Read this section on its own page: Active recall: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling

Teach back

Explain: how do you correctly cool a burn, and what do you do with blisters? And which step should you never skip when there is only sheet-metal damage?

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling

Memory hook

Burn: ±10 min lukewarm water, blisters intact. Fracture: cover, don't force it. Damage: always the form.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling

Source: WVW 1994 art. 7 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

Recognising and treating burns; handling damage correctly (Book p.175-177)BurnsDamage handlingKey figure/action±10 min cooling with lukewarm waterfill in the European accident report form togetherCommon mistakeice-cold water / popping a blisterskipping the form when both parties agreeBook rulealways leave blisters intactpolice report only for deaths/injuries/major damage
What to look at: Burns: 1st red, 2nd red+blisters, 3rd grey-white/black and painless — cool ±10 min lukewarm water, no ice. Damage: photos, name/plate, witnesses, accident report form.

Signs and law

Test yourself

At a barbecue evening in Ruurlo someone spills hot oil on their forearm. The skin is red, swollen and blisters are already appearing. What is your first action, and how long do you keep it up?

Show the answer

Cool a burn for ±10 minutes with lukewarm water, always leave blisters intact (Book p.176). For a bleeding wound: at least 10 minutes of direct pressure (Book p.175). For material damage only: photos, name/plate, witnesses, fill in the accident report form together (Book p.177).

Exam questions on this topic

About Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling: which statement is correct?

  1. For an (open) fracture you gently straighten the limb and bind the wound firmly.
  2. You give a victim with (impending) shock some water to drink for their thirst.
  3. Always leave blisters intact, so do not pop them and apply nothing, not even burn ointment, to the wound.
  4. You cool a burn as long and as cold as possible — the colder and longer the water, the better.
Show the answer

Correct answer: Always leave blisters intact, so do not pop them and apply nothing, not even burn ointment, to the wound.

Always leave blisters intact, so do not pop them and apply nothing, not even burn ointment, to the wound. Instead cover with sterile dressing

Why learners get this wrong: For an (open) fracture you gently straighten the limb and bind the wound firmly.

Open this question

About Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Fractures are not life-threatening, acute emergency aid is not needed.
  2. A victim with (impending) shock may not drink or eat, even if they are thirsty.
  3. You pop a burn blister so the fluid can drain and the wound heals faster.
  4. Cool the wound for ±10 minutes with lukewarm, gently running water and prevent hypothermia.
Show the answer

Correct answer: You pop a burn blister so the fluid can drain and the wound heals faster.

Always leave blisters intact, so do not pop them and apply nothing, not even burn ointment, to the wound. Instead cover with sterile dressing

Why learners get this wrong: For an (open) fracture you gently straighten the limb and bind the wound firmly.

Open this question

In a kitchen accident at a holiday cottage near Tilburg, someone gets a burn with clear blisters. How do you cool the wound?

  1. As long and as cold as possible, with ice water from the freezer
  2. ±10 minutes with lukewarm, gently running water, I leave the blisters intact
  3. I pop the blisters first so the cooling water works better
Show the answer

Correct answer: ±10 minutes with lukewarm, gently running water, I leave the blisters intact

±10 minutes of lukewarm water, not ice-cold and not endless — prevent hypothermia instead

Why learners get this wrong: You cool a burn as long and as cold as possible — the colder and longer the water, the better.

Open this question

Cool the wound for ±10 minutes with lukewarm, gently running water and prevent hypothermia.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

Cool the wound for ±10 minutes with lukewarm, gently running water and prevent hypothermia. Ice-cold water and cooling indefinitely are not in the book

Why learners get this wrong: You cool a burn as long and as cold as possible — the colder and longer the water, the better.

Open this question

About Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Cool the wound for ±10 minutes with lukewarm, gently running water and prevent hypothermia.
  2. If both drivers agree on what happened, the European accident report form does not need to be filled in.
  3. Always leave blisters intact, so do not pop them and apply nothing, not even burn ointment, to the wound.
  4. With minor accidents the police often do not come, or only to keep traffic moving; you fill in the accident report form with the other party, independent of the police.
Show the answer

Correct answer: If both drivers agree on what happened, the European accident report form does not need to be filled in.

As a final step, damage handling follows: fill in the European accident report form together with the other party. This is independent of whether you agree

Why learners get this wrong: You cool a burn as long and as cold as possible — the colder and longer the water, the better.

Open this question

As a final step, damage handling follows: fill in the European accident report form together with the other party.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

As a final step, damage handling follows: fill in the European accident report form together with the other party. This is independent of whether you agree

Why learners get this wrong: If both drivers agree on what happened, the European accident report form does not need to be filled in.

Open this question

In a kitchen in Tilburg someone has burnt their hand on a pan. There are blisters on the skin. You are the first to help. What do you do with the wound?

  1. You first pierce the blisters and then rinse the wound thoroughly
  2. You keep the hand in a bowl of ice-cold water for as long as possible
  3. You rinse the hand for about ten minutes under lukewarm, gently running water
Show the answer

Correct answer: You rinse the hand for about ten minutes under lukewarm, gently running water

False — you do not pierce a burn blister. Leave blisters intact, put nothing on the wound, cool for about ten minutes with lukewarm water and then cover with a sterile dressing

Why learners get this wrong: You pop a burn blister so the fluid can drain and the wound heals faster.

Open this question

Statement: you pop a burn blister so the fluid can drain and the wound heals faster.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: You pop a burn blister so the fluid can drain and the wound heals faster.

Open this question

In a single-vehicle accident on a country road near Ruurlo, the driver has an open fracture in his forearm. He is pale, clammy and thirsty and asks for some water. What do you do?

  1. Give a sip of water, cover the wound and call 112
  2. Straighten the arm, bandage the wound firmly and call 112
  3. Cover the wound without bandaging it, give no water and call 112
Show the answer

Correct answer: Cover the wound without bandaging it, give no water and call 112

False — you intervene where covering is enough. A fracture is not life-threatening; you treat an open fracture like a bleeding wound: cover it, do not bandage it and do not straighten it

Why learners get this wrong: You give a victim with (impending) shock some water to drink for their thirst.

Open this question

In which of the following situations does the book say you call 112 for a bleeding wound? (multiple answers possible)

  1. A graze with only some superficial bleeding
  2. A wound with a fracture, or signs of (impending) shock
  3. Severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
  4. A deep or penetrating wound, such as a stab wound
  5. A small nick that stops bleeding on its own after a minute
Show the answer

Correct answer: A wound with a fracture, or signs of (impending) shock; Severe bleeding that cannot be stopped; A deep or penetrating wound, such as a stab wound

False — The book names 112 for severe or unstoppable bleeding; a nick that stops on its own does not fall under that

Why learners get this wrong: A graze with only some superficial bleeding is a reason to call 112.

Open this question

All practice questions of this topic

Frequently asked questions

‘You cool a burn as long and as cold as possible — the colder and longer the water, the better’ – is that true?

No. Cool the wound for ±10 minutes with lukewarm, gently running water and prevent hypothermia. Ice-cold water and cooling indefinitely are not in the book

‘You pop a burn blister so the fluid can drain and the wound heals faster’ – is that true?

No. Always leave blisters intact, so do not pop them and apply nothing, not even burn ointment, to the wound. Instead cover with sterile dressing

‘For an (open) fracture you gently straighten the limb and bind the wound firmly’ – is that true?

No. Fractures are not life-threatening, acute emergency aid is not needed. For an open fracture you treat it like a bleed: cover the wound, don't bind it and don't straighten it

‘You give a victim with (impending) shock some water to drink for their thirst’ – is that true?

No. A victim with (impending) shock may not drink or eat, even if they are thirsty. Protect against cooling instead

‘If both drivers agree on what happened, the European accident report form does not need to be filled in’ – is that true?

No. As a final step, damage handling follows: fill in the European accident report form together with the other party. This is independent of whether you agree

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