Every year, approximately nine thousand fatalities occur because of serious burn injuries, and over half a million Americans need hospital treatment for burn-related accidents. Around ten thousand of these are children, who don’t know better than to touch hot surfaces or liquids, and often require emergency care. Though the causes of the incidents can be as varied as the possible outcomes, there are some common elements one should keep in mind. Here is a brief guide to burn injuries, how they are categorized, and how to deal with the after-effects.
There are many different types of burns, which are generally classified by what caused them. Inhalation burns develop through breathing in smoke or fumes from a fire. Electric burns occur if electricity, for example lightning, moves throughout the human body. A burn is chemical when the surface of the skin or eyes are exposed to powerful or unstable acids. Radiation burns can occur as a result of exposure to ultraviolet rays, as can happen from too much sun or extended use of tanning beds. The most common variety, as it could take place in your own home, at your job or virtually anywhere, is a contact burn. Stoves, overheated metals, flammable liquids and even candles can be at risk of causing contact burns.
Several life-changing consequences may come after a burn injury. These can include changes to physical appearance, dehydration, lung problems, amputation, limited motion in affected areas, skin grafts, scarring, damage to muscle elasticity and in severe cases, organ damage.
First- and second-degree burns can often be taken care of at home, provided they are obviously minor and cover a relatively small amount of skin, and leave minimal damage. Third-degree burns, which are more severe and often lead to the emergency room, can require reconstructive surgical procedures, a hospital stay and extensive and difficult periods of rehabilitation.
What can you do in the event of a serious burn? First of all, get medical assistance. Following that, investigate the underlying cause of the injury; it could be as simple as having touched a recently-used pan or a sizzling clothing iron, but not always. In some cases, the accident happens due to the negligence of another person. This may be a home or business owner failing to provide appropriate warning of a burn hazard, or a more direct role in the accident, such as a babysitter not paying full attention to their charges while cooking. Review the details – it’s possible that you may have grounds for a personal injury case. It’s important to document every detail of the incident, as well as any resulting costs and damage done to your daily life. These could prove important if your burn injury case reaches the courtroom.
