Fires and explosions can be cataclysmic, claiming lives or causing severe burns and other debilitating injuries. These can include thermal burns, which are caused by contact with flames, hot liquids, hot surfaces, and other sources of high heat as well as chemical burns and electrical burns. Each year in the United States, 1.1 million burn injuries require medical attention and approximately 50,000 of these require hospitalization. 20,000 have major burns involving at least 25 percent of their total body surface, and approximately 4,500 die per year from this injury.
Burn injuries can occur anywhere and from several sources. Some of the more common burn injury events include:
The extent of tissue damage depends on the source of the heat and the time exposed to the source. First degree burns are the mildest burn normally affecting only the top layer of skin. A common sun burn can fall into this category as it may get hot and red but won’t break the skin and usually heals within a few days.
A second degree burn damages through the second layer of skin. These burns are painful, can swell and appear red with blisters. Although it normally heals with cleaning, medicated ointment, and time, it can become infected if not treated properly, which prolongs the healing process.
Third degree burns affect the deeper tissue causing that could affect sensation and function. Most often they do not heal on their own and often require surgical intervention to remove the dead tissue. They may even necessitate skin grafting to address the missing tissue. Skin grafts are thin layers of donated skin that surgeons take from an unburned area of the person or from someone else that is surgically place on the burned area. Sometime synthetic skin grafting materials can be used. This process is normally painful and prolonged.
Burn therapy and medical intervention depends upon the nature and severity of the burn. It can range from topical medication to even amputation. With second and third degree burns, there is also a higher risk of infections. To prevent this from occurring, medication is usually administered at the site and with oral antibiotics. Eating well is also a key part of the recovery process. Healing from a burn injury requires more calories and protein than healing from other types of injury. Nutritionists may be consulted to assist in the healing process.
Physical, occupational, speech, and behavior therapy may be required because burns often leave behind significant scarring that can restrict muscle, ligament, and tendon movement. Physical therapists assist a victim’s ability to walk and move, do daily tasks, and live independently. Occupational therapy uses everyday activities and materials to help patients in their everyday task such as practicing dressing, bathing, and feeding themselves. If therapy is unsuccessful, surgical intervention may be required to address the scar tissue. Speech-Language Pathology helps with swallowing, voice, cognitive issues, and communication that can result from being burns. Psychological and other mental health therapy may also be required due to the typical depression, anxiety and loss of self-worth suffered as a result of a tragic burn injury.
Identifying the cause and source of the burn injury is significant to identify who may be responsible for what happened. It is not always obvious. For example, a toaster that catches fire and burns someone may result from a faulty toaster, a defective plug, or even a surge of electricity from the power company.
Aside from establishing the cause of the burn injury, burn victims routinely require prolonged medical care and treatment. The recovery process differs for everyone as they navigated through the physical and emotional recovery and rehabilitation process. With compassion, empathy and patience, the right burn injury lawyer will give strength and comfort to those victims when they need it the most. We are always happy to see how our team of burn injury lawyer can help. Call us.