Burn Injury

Burn injuries are classified from two different points of view:

• What caused them

• How severe they are

Causes of burn injuries

One thinks of heat as causing burns, and in fact, some kind of heat usually is the cause. But there are a couple of exceptions:

• Severe cold – causes frostbite, which is damage to the skin and tissue beneath it similar to that caused by heat

• Friction – scrapes the skin, tearing it and exposing nerve endings

Heat sources

• Open flames

• Hot liquids including steam

• Hot surfaces

• Hot rays as from the sun or a furnace

• Chemicals

• Electricity

Most burns are caused by the first three sources.

Burn severity

First and second degree burns – these can be treated with first aid and will heal by themselves. The second degree burns are distinguished by blisters.

Third degree burns – all skin layers are burnt as well as the upper level of tissue beneath the skin. These burns feel numb, look white and waxy, and to someone touching them they feel dry and hard.

Fourth degree burns – all skin layers, the underneath tissue, and even bone is burnt. These burns look black.

The third and fourth degree burns must be given specialized and prolonged medical treatment, and even with the best treatment will leave large scars.

Treating burn injuries

Our skin is a protective organ. When it’s healthy, it keeps bacteria out and fluids in. Any time its integrity is breached:

• Infection can set in, and

• We can become dehydrated.

Aside from surgery, medical care focuses chiefly on preventing these two things from happening until the skin has healed enough to do it without help.

• The burn area is kept scrupulously clean

• Sterile dressings are changed frequently

• Antibiotics are given to combat infection

• IV fluids are given and the person is closely monitored for fluid balance

Skin grafts

In cases where the burn is so extensive that the skin can’t regrow, skin can be taken from somewhere else on the body and attached over the burnt area. With proper care and follow-up, it will merge with the surrounding skin. The area where it was taken is kept small enough to heal by replacing its own skin.

Scarring

Of all injuries, burns tend to leave the most prominent scars. Each of us develops scars differently, and the way we do it is partly based on our heredity. For some, scars develop quickly and look small and pale. For others, they develop more slowly and remain raised and red.

In some cases, follow-up surgery can be done to reduce the size and redness of scars.

Healing time

In almost all cases of severe burn where the victim survives, healing is slow and expensive. It’s also painful, and if ligaments and muscles were burnt, extensive physical therapy will be needed to help in restoring full movement.

If you or someone you love has sustained a severe burn, be patient and hold on to your hope and optimism. Extraordinary recoveries are possible and the patient’s determination to achieve that is a big part of making it happen.

The help of a burn injury attorney can also be a big help. Contact a personal injury attorney right away. We work on contingency, meaning that you owe us nothing until we obtain a settlement for you. If the burn injuries were caused by someone’s negligence, and that can be proved, you can potentially be compensated for:

• Medical costs

• Pain and suffering

• Lost wages, past, present and future

We can look into the facts of the accident and interview people to gather more information. Our medical experts can assess the burn injuries and estimate future medical costs. We’ll deal with the insurance companies and represent you so that you can obtain the full amount potentially owing to you.

For your further reading here are some Frequently Asked Questions about severe injuries.