Burn Injuries

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), over two million burn injuries occur in the U.S. every year, and of those two million, approximately eight to ten thousand result in death. Burn injuries can occur on the job, in the home, or at play. Burn injuries occur due to a number of causes and vary in severity.

Types of Burns

There are four main types of burns:

• Thermal burns - caused by contact with flames, steam, hot water (or other hot liquids), and other sources of intense heat.
• Light burns - caused by contact with sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet light.
• Chemical burns - caused by contact with an acid or an alkali.
• Radiation burns - caused by contact with nuclear radiation or ultraviolet light.

The severity of a burn injury will fall into one of three categories:

• First-degree burns - only the first layer of skin is burned. First-degree burns are characterized by reddened skin that will heal in approximately one week and may peel. The most common type of first-degree burn is sunburn.
• Second-degree burns - the first and second layer of skin is burned. Second-degree burns are characterized by moist-looking skin and blisters.
• Third-degree burns - all layers of the skin are burned and the underlying tissue is damaged. Third-degree burns are characterized by a white or black dry wound. Permanent scarring is inevitable.

If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury, you may want to contact a burn injury attorney for more information.

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