According to the National Fire Protection Association, on average a fire department responded to a fire every 23 seconds in 2020 and a person was fatally injured in a fire every two hours. Every 35 minutes, a person suffers a non-fatal fire injury. Burn injuries are one of the leading causes of accidental injury and death in the U.S. According to the American Burn Association, burn injuries accounted for 486,000 injuries requiring medical treatment in 2016 alone.
But burns are not just caused by fires. A burn can occur from many sources and the injury can take different forms. Some of the common causes of burn injuries include heat, electrocution, exposure to chemicals, and other sources too.
Because of the seriousness of the injury and varying methods of treatment, it’s important to recognize that there are different types of burns:
- Thermal burns from hot glass, metal, or other objects
- Scalding from hot liquids or steam
- Electrical burns from faulty wiring, outlets or other mechanical components
- Chemical burns from exposure to chemicals such as chlorine, battery acid, or bleach
- Radiation burns
- Smoke inhalation from breathing in fumes from smoke or chemicals.
To be clear, immediately after suffering a burn injury, you or your loved one should seek medical attention from a healthcare provider. There are, however, some basic guidelines to follow:
Thermal Burns
- Immediately stop contact with the heat source
- Remove clothing near the burned area
- Do not apply any topicals to the affected area
- Loosely cover the burned area with sterile gauze
- Do not apply ice when trying to treat a burn and avoid popping blisters to release fluid
Electrical Burns
- De-energize the source of the electricity if it is safe to do so. If there is any concern that it is not safe to unplug the source of electricity, you can use a tool made of non-conductive material, (such as a broom handle) to push the burn victim out of contact with source.
- Loosely cover the burned area with sterile gauze.
Chemical Burns
- Treat the burned area by washing the affected area with cool water until the burn sensation ceases. Do not allow the water run-off from the affected area to flow onto other areas of the body.
- As you rinse, remove clothing or accessories that may have been contaminated with the chemicals.
- Loosely cover the burned area with sterile gauze.
Burns come in levels of severity called degrees. A first-degree burn is the least severe and most common. It is the only degree of burn typically capable of being treated at home. A first-degree burn will result in pain, swelling, redness or blanched (whitening) of the skin. Second-degree burns are worse and accompanied by blistering, severe pain, swelling, and a splotchy appearance. Third and fourth-degree burns are the most severe. These types of burns penetrate the first layer of the skin and can affect bones and the surrounding muscle. Burns this severe can cause nerve damage which is identified as numbness or tingling in the burn area. Anything above a first-degree burn will ordinarily require antibiotics and/or other treatment such as skin grafts, intravenous fluids, surgery, and even amputation.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident resulting in a burn injury, you must work with an attorney experienced with the causes and the nature of your injury. Abraham Watkins has recovered billions on behalf of clients who have been burned as a result of an accident. Abraham Watkins is the longest-standing personal injury firm in Texas. Contact us today by Calling 713-222-7211 or toll-free at 1-800-594-4884.