Degrees of a Burn Injury

A burn injury can be a painful experience to go through. Not all burn injuries are the same and they can vary greatly in the amount of damage they cause. Some of them can be simple and easy to treat at home, while others will require immediate medical care. In the past there were not as many facilities that were specific to burn victims. Today there are more options for those that are burned and they stand a greater chance of surviving and healing. Each year there are thousands of burn cases with over 3,000 of them resulting in a fatality; a large decline when compared to earlier years. There are a number of types of burn injuries that can be caused from heat, chemicals, friction, cold temperatures, radiation and more.

One of the more common types of burn injuries it was is a first degree burn. This one is superficial for the most part and often includes a burning feeling and reddening of the skin. This type of burn can usually be easily treated without the need for medical service unless it is present on more sensitive areas such as the face. A second degree burn goes deeper into the skin, burning down through the epidermis to the dermis. This can leave blisters on the skin as well as a deep red color. A second degree burn on a more serious level is known as a partial thickness burn. A third degree burn damages all of the skin as well as the subcutaneous tissue below. Not only does it harm these areas, it can also reach the muscle underneath. This type of burn will without doubt need to be treated by a medical professional and failure to do so can cause further damage including infection. A fourth degree burn makes it through all layers of skin, damaging anything below including muscle, nerves, blood vessels, tendons and even bones. Medical care will be needed as fast as possible and this type of injury can cause serious injury including the need for amputation.

Along with the depth of a burn, the amount of the body affected is also considered when assessing how serious an injury is. While the human body is able to recover from many types of trauma, some burn injuries may require additional help such as a skin graft. A burn can harm the nerves, leaving the injured part to lose sensation and the ability to feel in certain areas. The ability to heal will be depending on the health of the current victim along with how serious their injury was. A burn can cause irreversible damage along with unsightly scarring. Those that are burned seriously will be in need of medical service to not only heal them immediately but continue to carry on the mending process. Those that are injured depending on the type of burn can be left with lifelong effects. If a burn went all the way through the skin, nerves in the area may never be able to fully repair and the skin in the area may be unable to naturally heal on its own either. Injuries do not only occur to the outside of a person. Hot gases can be breather in that singe the lining of the nasal cavity, throat and lungs. When a burn injury does occur, emergency medical treatment should be sought first and then an attorney later to help seek compensation for any expenses and damages.