A hydrogel composition and a method for protecting a surface from thermal injury is disclosed. The method comprises applying a hydrogel composition to the surface to protect the skin from exposure to a heat flux, wherein the hydrogel is of a type and applied in an amount effective to reduce heat flux by at least 40 percent when exposed to a heat flux of 40 kW/m2. Representative examples of such hydrogels include ionized carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel, ionized polyacrylate hydrogel, and a polymer formed from acrylic acid and crosslinked with polyalkenyl ethers or divinyl glycol.
