What is a Burn Injury?

When you’re exposed to heat, electricity, chemicals, or even radiation, your tissue can get damaged. In fact, the tissue is damaged to the point that it dies. That damage is called a burn injury. Burn injuries can be relatively minor, perhaps only having a superficial effect on the body, or really severe, potentially damaging muscle and bone. The severity of your injury will often depend on (a) what type of burn you’ve sustained and (b) the size of the affected area.

Types of Burn Injuries

There are five primary types of burn injuries. Any type of burn injury can have painful, debilitating consequences.

THERMAL BURN: A thermal burn injury occurs when you are exposed to and make contact with a hot object. Thermal burns can be caused by fire, hot objects, liquids, or even steam.

CHEMICAL BURN: A chemical burn occurs when you are exposed to and make contact with harmful chemicals. Chemical burns can be caused by highly acidic liquids or solvents.

ELECTRICAL BURN: Touching electricity or an electrical current can result in electrocution. It can also singe your tissue and cause an electrical burn. 

RADIATION BURN: Some cancer patients who receive chemotherapy treatments are vulnerable to radiation burns, which occur when the body is exposed to high doses of radiation over an extended period of time. Individuals who work with or near radiation are also susceptible to this type of burn injury.

COLD BURN: You can also suffer a burn injury if you’re exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Cold burns, also known as frostbite, can cause just as much damage as heat or chemical-related burn injuries.

Degrees of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are diagnosed on a scale of one to six. First-degree burns are the least serious, while sixth-degree burns can result in death.

FIRST-DEGREE BURN: A first-degree burn is a surface burn. It only affects the outer layer of your skin. Symptoms can include redness or pain at the site of injury.

SECOND-DEGREE BURN: A second-degree burn affects both the outer and inner layers of your skin. Symptoms include skin that is hot to the touch, which may also seem to have a shiny or wet appearance. Blisters commonly form on the site of the injury.

THIRD-DEGREE BURN: A third-degree burn doesn’t just affect your skin, but also the layer of fat beneath the surface. Also known as a full-thickness burn, this injury causes damage to your nerve endings. As a result, you may not be able to feel pain or discomfort at the site of the burn injury. It’s common for the site of a third-degree burn to have a white, yellow, black, or brown leathery appearance. Since the damage is so severe, recovery from a third-degree burn often requires skin grafts.

FOURTH-DEGREE BURN: A fourth-degree burn is very severe, potentially causing damage to the tendons, nerves, and muscle beneath the skin. Many times, fourth-degree burns have long-term or collateral consequences, including infection and joint problems. Amputations may be necessary if you sustain fourth-degree burns.

FIFTH-DEGREE BURN: A fifth-degree burn may not just affect your tissue, but also the bone at the site of the injury. The skin may appear to be charred or white, and the bone will likely be exposed. Fifth-degree burns can potentially lead to permanent internal damage, including organ failure. Amputation may be required to prevent the injury or a related infection from spreading.

SITH-DEGREE BURN: A sixth-degree burn is the most severe, often the result of extended exposure to high heat. You may also sustain a burn of this magnitude if you’re involved in a car accident or are in an explosion. Sixth-degree burns won’t just expose the bone under the site of the injury, but will do damage to the bone, as well. Sixth-degree burns can be fatal.

Always seek medical treatment right away if you’ve sustained a burn injury. 

What Can Cause a Burn Injury in Mission?

Burn injuries happen more than you might think. The CDC estimates that every year, 1.1 million Americans sustain burn injuries that require medical attention. Many of these injuries are severe. About 50,000 people will have to be hospitalized for treatment. Another 4,500 won’t survive the extent of their burn injuries.

Many times, burn injuries are accidental. They happen because someone is negligent or isn’t paying attention. In fact, the American Burn Association reports that burns are a leading cause of unintentional injury and death in the United States.

In Mission Texas, leading causes of accidental burn injuries include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Defective products
• Hazardous or unsafe premises
• Construction accidents
• Explosions, and
• Medical negligence.

When you sustain a burn accident and someone else is to blame, you may want to consider filing an injury claim or lawsuit for damages. Contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at the Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm to learn more about your legal rights and options today.