Burn Injuries - Personal Injury Legal Tips
Practically everyone has experienced the pain of some kind of burn.
Fortunately, most of the burns we experience aren't serious and don't require medical attention, like a mild sunburn or accidentally touching a hot pot or skillet on the stove.
However, other burns can cause serious injury or even death.
Burns have four different causes: heat (fire and scalding), electrical, chemical and radiation.
All of these burns may vary in severity and some, like electrical burns, may cause serious secondary injuries or medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest or broken bones from a fall.
The appropriate treatment for a burn of any type is determined by its severity.
There are four classifications of severity, each more serious and requiring more extensive treatment.
The classifications are: First degree - This type of burn affects only the first layer of skin, causes reddening and some discomfort, and is generally considered minor.
The most typical first degree burn is a sunburn, which is actually a radiation burn and easily treatable with a variety of readily available topical medications and a dose or two of over-the-counter pain relievers.
It is wise to avoid exposure to the sun until the condition has passed to avoid further skin damage and discomfort.
Treatment for other first degree burns is similar, with significant relief in just a day or two.
Second degree - A second degree burn extends deeper and into the second skin layer.
Although more serious and certainly more painful than a first degree burn, these burns present themselves differently, take longer to heal, and require more attention.
There is significant redness and blistering of the skin.
While a first degree burn is dry to the touch, second degree burns are moist.
It the burn is not properly cleaned, there is the possibility of infections such a cellulitis, a potentially dangerous condition if not treated.
Second degree burns can be caused by any number of accidents such a too long a contact with a hot surface, fire, scalding from very hot water, or an electrical or chemical burn.
Even a severe sunburn or radiation treatment can result in a second degree burn.
Fortunately, second degree burns don't typically result in scarring.
There are, however, instances where a more severe second degree burn damages deeper tissue.
This level of a second degree burn presents itself as having yellowish or white skin, may or may not blister and is fairly dry to the touch.
These burns may result in scarring and could require the excision (removal) of the affected tissue, and necessitate a skin graft.
The recovery period may take up to two months.
Third degree burns - These burns extend through all layers of the dermis and are extremely serious.
Skin feels leathery and is discolored from white to brown.
Because a third degree burn does extensive nerve damage, they tend to be relatively painless after the initial injury.
Treatment is much more radical, involving removal of the damaged tissue, often shortening of affected muscles, and in severe cases, amputation.
Third degree burns always result in scarring.
Healing takes months and patients aren't able to be restored to complete normalcy.
Fourth degree burns - Only the most sever burns are classified as fourth degree burns.
A fourth degree burn extends through the skin layers, fat and muscle and to the bone.
These burns are characterized as being very dry to the touch and black or charred in appearance with eschar (burned tissue falling off).
Treatment always requires excision of damaged tissue and often amputation.
Long term effects are significant impairment and even death.
Determining the overall severity of a burn also involves the percent ofTotal Body Surface Area (TBSA) affected.
As a rule of thumb, the size of one's palm is equal to about 1% of TBSA.
The deepness of a burn is also a factor in determining severity.
When a burn covers less than 10% TBSA, it is considered minor.
Burns covering 10% to 20% TBSA are classified as moderate, and burns covering 20% or more on of a person's TBSA is major.
Other significant and injurious burns considered major can be caused by high voltage, the exposure to and inhalation of a known toxic and/or caustic agent, or substantial burns to the face, joints, hands or feet.
Minor burns can be managed at home, moderate burns are managed in a hospital, and major burns require management at a burn center specializing in the treatment of severe burns.
Of course the best treatment for burns is prevention.
It is estimated that at least half of all burns are preventable.
Taking some basic precautions can reduce the risk of burns significantly.
Perhaps one if the simplest steps one can take is to lower the thermostat on water heaters.
This is especially true if there are young children in the house.
Setting the temperature no higher than 120 degrees can prevent scalding while providing plenty of hot water and even saving you money on the operating cost of your water heater.
Electrical fires are one of the more common causes of house fires.
To prevent a fire, have electrical wiring checked by an electrician if you notice you are tripping circuit breakers or blowing fuses more frequently.
One of the simplest yet least expensive preventive measures you can take to prevent electrical fires is never overload outlets or circuits.
Limit the use of extension cords, and make sure you're not over exceeding the maximum load of a particular circuit breaker, fuse, or outlet.
It is also a good practice to have your heating system inspected regularly.
You may not only prevent a house fire, but may stop a carbon monoxide tragedy.
If your home has a fireplace or wood burning stove, be sure the chimney is clean and free of creosote buildup.
Creosote naturally accumulates in chimneys as the hot by-products of a fire rise into a cooler chimney, condense, and stick to the flue.
Chimney fires are 100% preventable.
Proper maintenance, cleaning, and burning the correct type of wood are essential.
Common household cleaners, especially drain cleaners, may look benign, but mixing the wrong chemicals together can result in disaster like severe disfigurement, respiratory burns or chemical burns to the face and eyes.
Always read directions about potentially dangerous interactions carefully.
Treatment for burn injuries has come a long way in the last number of years, yet burns can be one of the most serious, debilitating and life threatening of all injuries.
A little knowledge, caution and common sense can go a long way in keeping you and your family safe.
Fortunately, most of the burns we experience aren't serious and don't require medical attention, like a mild sunburn or accidentally touching a hot pot or skillet on the stove.
However, other burns can cause serious injury or even death.
Burns have four different causes: heat (fire and scalding), electrical, chemical and radiation.
All of these burns may vary in severity and some, like electrical burns, may cause serious secondary injuries or medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest or broken bones from a fall.
The appropriate treatment for a burn of any type is determined by its severity.
There are four classifications of severity, each more serious and requiring more extensive treatment.
The classifications are: First degree - This type of burn affects only the first layer of skin, causes reddening and some discomfort, and is generally considered minor.
The most typical first degree burn is a sunburn, which is actually a radiation burn and easily treatable with a variety of readily available topical medications and a dose or two of over-the-counter pain relievers.
It is wise to avoid exposure to the sun until the condition has passed to avoid further skin damage and discomfort.
Treatment for other first degree burns is similar, with significant relief in just a day or two.
Second degree - A second degree burn extends deeper and into the second skin layer.
Although more serious and certainly more painful than a first degree burn, these burns present themselves differently, take longer to heal, and require more attention.
There is significant redness and blistering of the skin.
While a first degree burn is dry to the touch, second degree burns are moist.
It the burn is not properly cleaned, there is the possibility of infections such a cellulitis, a potentially dangerous condition if not treated.
Second degree burns can be caused by any number of accidents such a too long a contact with a hot surface, fire, scalding from very hot water, or an electrical or chemical burn.
Even a severe sunburn or radiation treatment can result in a second degree burn.
Fortunately, second degree burns don't typically result in scarring.
There are, however, instances where a more severe second degree burn damages deeper tissue.
This level of a second degree burn presents itself as having yellowish or white skin, may or may not blister and is fairly dry to the touch.
These burns may result in scarring and could require the excision (removal) of the affected tissue, and necessitate a skin graft.
The recovery period may take up to two months.
Third degree burns - These burns extend through all layers of the dermis and are extremely serious.
Skin feels leathery and is discolored from white to brown.
Because a third degree burn does extensive nerve damage, they tend to be relatively painless after the initial injury.
Treatment is much more radical, involving removal of the damaged tissue, often shortening of affected muscles, and in severe cases, amputation.
Third degree burns always result in scarring.
Healing takes months and patients aren't able to be restored to complete normalcy.
Fourth degree burns - Only the most sever burns are classified as fourth degree burns.
A fourth degree burn extends through the skin layers, fat and muscle and to the bone.
These burns are characterized as being very dry to the touch and black or charred in appearance with eschar (burned tissue falling off).
Treatment always requires excision of damaged tissue and often amputation.
Long term effects are significant impairment and even death.
Determining the overall severity of a burn also involves the percent ofTotal Body Surface Area (TBSA) affected.
As a rule of thumb, the size of one's palm is equal to about 1% of TBSA.
The deepness of a burn is also a factor in determining severity.
When a burn covers less than 10% TBSA, it is considered minor.
Burns covering 10% to 20% TBSA are classified as moderate, and burns covering 20% or more on of a person's TBSA is major.
Other significant and injurious burns considered major can be caused by high voltage, the exposure to and inhalation of a known toxic and/or caustic agent, or substantial burns to the face, joints, hands or feet.
Minor burns can be managed at home, moderate burns are managed in a hospital, and major burns require management at a burn center specializing in the treatment of severe burns.
Of course the best treatment for burns is prevention.
It is estimated that at least half of all burns are preventable.
Taking some basic precautions can reduce the risk of burns significantly.
Perhaps one if the simplest steps one can take is to lower the thermostat on water heaters.
This is especially true if there are young children in the house.
Setting the temperature no higher than 120 degrees can prevent scalding while providing plenty of hot water and even saving you money on the operating cost of your water heater.
Electrical fires are one of the more common causes of house fires.
To prevent a fire, have electrical wiring checked by an electrician if you notice you are tripping circuit breakers or blowing fuses more frequently.
One of the simplest yet least expensive preventive measures you can take to prevent electrical fires is never overload outlets or circuits.
Limit the use of extension cords, and make sure you're not over exceeding the maximum load of a particular circuit breaker, fuse, or outlet.
It is also a good practice to have your heating system inspected regularly.
You may not only prevent a house fire, but may stop a carbon monoxide tragedy.
If your home has a fireplace or wood burning stove, be sure the chimney is clean and free of creosote buildup.
Creosote naturally accumulates in chimneys as the hot by-products of a fire rise into a cooler chimney, condense, and stick to the flue.
Chimney fires are 100% preventable.
Proper maintenance, cleaning, and burning the correct type of wood are essential.
Common household cleaners, especially drain cleaners, may look benign, but mixing the wrong chemicals together can result in disaster like severe disfigurement, respiratory burns or chemical burns to the face and eyes.
Always read directions about potentially dangerous interactions carefully.
Treatment for burn injuries has come a long way in the last number of years, yet burns can be one of the most serious, debilitating and life threatening of all injuries.
A little knowledge, caution and common sense can go a long way in keeping you and your family safe.