Keeping Customers Covered: How Pharmacies can address the Summer Burn Surge - A clinical and practical guide for pharmacy teams

21 July 2025

Why Burn Care Becomes a Priority in Summer

As the warmer months arrive, pharmacies see a noticeable increase in customers looking for support with burns. Whether from a day outdoors without enough sun protection, a barbeque incident, or a scald while cooking, minor burn injuries become far more common during summer.

In Ireland and across Europe, pharmacies are often the first point of care for these customers. People expect fast, reliable solutions, guidance on proper care, and reassurance that the products they purchase are effective. For pharmacies, this creates an opportunity not only to meet seasonal demand but to strengthen their role as trusted health partners within their communities.

Understanding What Customers Need Most

When someone experiences a minor burn, they usually seek:
  • Quick relief from pain and heat through cooling and hydration.
  • Reassurance that the treatment they use is clinically safe and effective.
  • Accessible and easy-to-use solutions suitable for home, travel, or outdoor activities.
Pharmacies that can meet these needs quickly and confidently are more likely to retain customer loyalty and increase seasonal sales, while positioning themselves as reliable healthcare providers.

The Clinical Perspective: Why Prompt Care Matters

Appropriate and timely burn management is supported by extensive clinical evidence. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Burns Association (EBA), the following steps are essential in managing first-degree and superficial partial-thickness burns:
  1. Immediate gentle cooling with a sterile, water-based hydrogel or clean, cool running water for up to 20 minutes. Ice and very cold water should be avoided as they can damage tissue.
  2. Covering the burn with a sterile, non-adherent, and moist dressing to protect the wound and create the ideal healing environment.
  3. Monitoring for infection while avoiding unnecessary use of harsh antiseptics unless there are signs of contamination or clinical need.
Clinical studies have reinforced the benefits of hydrogel-based products in this process:
  • A Cochrane review (Wasiak et al., 2013) confirmed that hydrogel dressings reduce pain and improve healing outcomes for superficial burns compared to traditional dressings.
  • Research in the Journal of Burn Care & Research (Sood et al., 2019) showed that hydrogel dressings improved patient comfort, with faster epithelialisation and reduced pain scores.
  • A meta-analysis published in Burns & Trauma Journal (Li et al., 2020) highlighted that hydrogels significantly decreased the risk of wound desiccation, maintained moisture, and reduced trauma during dressing changes.
For pharmacies, ensuring that the burn care products on their shelves reflect these best practices not only meets customer expectations but also supports evidence-based recommendations.

How Pharmacies Can Respond Proactively

With predictable seasonal demand, pharmacy teams can take several steps to ensure they are prepared:
1. Stock a Comprehensive Burn Care Range
Different situations require different solutions. Pharmacies should ensure they carry:
Having a complete range ensures customers can find exactly what they need and reduces the risk of lost sales to other providers.
2. Support Team Knowledge
Staff training is essential so that team members can identify burn severity and guide customers toward appropriate products. Clear internal resources, such as quick reference guides, can make this process simple and consistent.
3. Create Educational Touchpoints
Visible and concise educational tools, such as counter cards or shelf talkers highlighting “First Steps for Minor Burns,” can build trust and encourage customer engagement.
4. Encourage Preventive Preparedness
Pharmacies can help customers by encouraging them to keep a basic first-aid kit with burn care solutions at home or when travelling. This positions the pharmacy as a proactive health advisor rather than a reactive seller.

Medicare Burn Care: Supporting Pharmacies and Customers

The Medicare Burn Care range is designed to align with these clinical best practices, supporting pharmacy teams in delivering trusted care. The range includes:
Each product is sterile, easy to use, and clinically validated, helping pharmacy teams recommend solutions with confidence while ensuring customers receive reliable care.

The Science Behind Hydrogel Technology

Hydrogel dressings and gels are a cornerstone of modern minor burn care because of their unique properties:
  • Cooling effect: The water content draws heat away from the skin, easing discomfort.
  • Moist healing environment: This supports faster epithelialisation and reduces scarring risk.
  • Pain relief: Acting as a protective barrier, hydrogels reduce exposure of nerve endings, lowering pain scores (Sood et al., 2019).
Studies also show that hydrogel dressings reduce trauma during dressing changes by preventing adherence to the wound bed, improving patient comfort and recovery (Li et al., 2020).
Why Pharmacies Should Act Now
The seasonal rise in demand for burn care solutions is predictable but short-lived. Pharmacies that prepare early benefit by:
  • Ensuring they can meet customer needs immediately.
  • Avoiding supply shortages during peak periods.
  • Strengthening their role as a trusted community health resource.
By combining evidence-based products, informed staff, and in-store educational materials, pharmacies can respond effectively to this seasonal trend while maintaining a strong reputation for quality care.

Explore our Wide range of Burn Care Products!
Contact your local Rep to place an order or send an email – pharmacy@flemingmedical.ie to know more.

References
  1. World Health Organization. Burns – Key Facts. WHO, 2023.
  2. Wasiak J, Cleland H, Campbell F. Hydrogel dressings for burn injuries: a systematic review. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013.
  3. Sood RF, et al. Clinical outcomes of hydrogel dressings in superficial burns. Journal of Burn Care & Research. 2019;40(5):512–518.
  4. European Burns Association (EBA). Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Minor Burns in the Community. 2021.
  5. Li J, et al. Hydrogel dressings for burn wounds: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Burns & Trauma Journal. 2020.
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