Burn Injury Safety, Prevention & FAQs

The American Burn Association (ABA) reports that nearly 500,000 people seek professional medical treatment for burn injuries each and every year. Millions more suffer minor or moderate burn injuries that they treat on their own. Few injuries are more traumatic than a serious burn. Severe burn injuries can have devastating physical and psychological effects on the victim and their family. Not only are burns notoriously painful, but they can cause extensive long-term damage, including permanent scarring or disfigurement.

wrapping a burn injury

At Ladah Law Firm, PLLC, our Las Vegas, Nevada burn injury lawyers are strong advocates for injured victims and we are dedicated to promoting safety. We want to make sure that everyone has the tools that they need for preventing dangerous burn injury situations and to treat injuries once they occur.

Of course, it is not always possible to prevent every burn injury. Accidents happen and you cannot control the negligent actions of another party. In the unfortunate event that you or your loved one suffered a severe burn injury, you need professional legal support. For a free, no obligation consultation, please contact our Las Vegas burn injury lawyers today.

The Most Common Types of Burns and How to Treat Burns

Thermal Burns

Thermal burns are the single most common type of burn injury in the United States. A thermal burn occurs when a victim is directly exposed to a heated object. A typical example of a thermal burn is a child putting their hand on a hot stove.

Thermal burns must be treated with great care. In most cases, it is recommended that the victim pours cold water on the burn. It is best to do this for five to ten minutes at a time. Do not use ice. As the Mayo Clinic notes, putting ice on a serious burn may cause additional damage. Further, if you have a third degree thermal burn — meaning the skin was charred and there is deep tissue damage — you need to get to an emergency room immediately.

Scalding Burns

Scalding burns are similar to thermal burns. The burn occurs because the skin makes direct contact with hot liquid. Scalding burns have the potential to be worse than thermal burns because hot liquid can quickly spread over the surface of the body, thereby causing a large, painful burn injury in a very short amount of time. With first and second degree scalding burns, the victim should run cold water over the injury. Once again, third degree burns require professional medical attention.

Chemical Burns

Chemical burns involve contact with an acid or other similar dangerous irritants. Some common examples of products that can cause chemical burns include gasoline, paint thinner, and drain cleaners. Though, many people may be exposed to far more dangerous chemicals, whether in the workplace, at home, or at another business. These types of burns are also first treated with cold water. Though, with chemical burns, the victim needs to be absolutely sure that they have removed all of the irritant from their skin, including getting rid of any contaminated clothing.

Electrical Burns

While they are not quite as common as thermal burns, scalding burns, or chemical burns, electrical burns can be every bit as dangerous. These burns occur when an electrical current passes through the body. That can happen in many different ways, from a defective product causing an electric shock to a hair dryer falling into a bathroom sink full of water. Electrical burns have the potential to cause serious internal damage, and they may cause injuries far beyond the actual contact site. With a serious electrical burn, emergency medical attention is a must.

Third Degree Burns Always Require Emergency Medical Attention

If you have suffered a burn, you may not be sure if you need to seek medical treatment or if you can handle the injury on your own. This is a common concern: If you have a possible third degree burn — a burn that destroys the top two layers of skin — you need to see a doctor immediately. This is a serious injury that could result in long-term scarring and serious infection. Do not take any chances. With burn injuries, it is best to be as safe as possible.

How Can You Prevent Burn Injuries?

There are steps that you can take that will help to limit the likelihood that you or your child will be burned. While it is obviously not possible to guarantee that an accident will never take place, there are things that you can do in and around your home that will help to reduce the risk of serious burn accidents. Some tips include:

Ensure that working smoke detectors are installed in your home, so you can quickly respond to all fire emergencies.
Have a fire evacuation plan in place for you, your family, and your pets.
Be sure that all dangerous chemicals are safely stored and used with proper care and supervision.
Put covers on electrical outlets that are within the reach of children, and get rid of any frayed or damaged wiring.
Be very careful whenever there is an open flame in your home.
Make sure that everyone in the house is aware of the fact that stoves, pans, pots, and other things are hot and in use.
Always monitor any heated or boiling water.
Check bath/shower temperature before getting in or putting a child in.

What Compensation is Available to Burn Victims?

If you or your loved one suffered a burn injury as a result of the negligent actions of another party, you may be entitled to financial relief for your damages. Through a personal injury claim, victims have a right to hold negligent defendants liable for their damages. At Ladah Law Firm, PLLC, our top-rated Las Vegas burn injury lawyers have a deep understanding of the legal claims process. We fight aggressively to help victims maximize their recovery. Depending on the nature of the claim, burn injury victims may be eligible to recover financial compensation for:

Emergency room fees;
Medical expenses;
Rehabilitative care;
Lost current and future wages;
Pain and suffering;
Permanent scarring or disfigurement; and
Wrongful death damages.

Contact Our Las Vegas Burn Injury Lawyers Today

At Ladah Law Firm, PLLC, our Nevada personal injury lawyers have extensive experience handling burn injury claims. If you or your loved one suffered a serious burn, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical attention.