According to the American Burn Association, over 450,000 individuals annually seek medical attention for burns, with 45,000 of these cases requiring hospitalization. Tragically, 3,500 of these incidents result in fatalities. Among these, burns sustained in burned homes account for a significant portion, highlighting the critical importance of fire safety and prevention measures in residential settings.
In the US, only automobile accidents cause more accidental deaths than burns. In the meanwhile, severe burns can cause tremendous suffering for survivors and frequently leave sufferers with psychological scars in addition to physical ones. While physical damage to your property can be remedied by options like selling a fire-damaged house, psychological trauma often requires a longer recovery period, involving therapy and emotional support
Burns can result from a variety of factors, with structure fires being the most frequent. Chemicals, auto fires, workplace accidents, electrocution, and gasoline fires can also result in burns.
Fire-related burns in a home or apartment
A house or apartment fire is the most probable cause of burn injuries, accounting for 68 percent of all injuries. These flames can result from a variety of sources, including gas explosions and fires, cooking grease fires, electrical fires, and appliance fires, to mention a few.
Burns sustained in burned homes and apartments can be extremely painful, lead to significant scarring and deformity, and may even result in death. What is making the whole situation even worse is that homeowners are left with the daunting task of deciding what to do with their damaged property – to rebuild or sell a fire-damaged house.
In addition to the agony and suffering, medical costs for treatment can be exorbitant and in certain circumstances, years of surgery, doctor visits, and physical therapy may be necessary.
While some house fires are the result of accidents, in other instances, these catastrophic fires are the result of faulty gas lines and meters, poor wiring, and malfunctioning appliances. Particularly where gas or electrical lines are the source of the fire, every house fire should be examined for the likelihood of a lawsuit.
Data on burn injuries
- Approximately 450,000 burn injuries require medical attention every year.
- Every year, 3,500 people pass away from burn injuries.
- Each year, 45,000 people with burn injuries need to be hospitalized.
- Seventy percent of all burn victims are men.
- In burned homes, burn injuries account for 68% of cases.
- Fire is to blame for 44% of burns. The cause of 33% is scorching.
Different Burn Injury Types
Medical professionals categorize burns according to their severity, with fourth degree burns being the worst.
Burns of the first degree are distinguished by their redness and tactile sensitivity. The burn does not penetrate the skin’s surface, and there is little to no tissue damage. A first-degree burn frequently causes pain and swelling. One type of first-degree burn is a sunburn.
Blistering, swelling, redness, and pain are the main characteristics of second-degree burns, which do penetrate the skin. The sweat glands and hair follicles are frequently also harmed. If a second-degree burn is not treated correctly, it could progress to a third-degree burn.
Burns of the third degree – In these burns, the skin turns transparent or burned, and the tissue damage is severe. Due to nerve loss, third-degree burns are frequently painless; nevertheless, second-degree burns nearby may cause pain. Third-degree burns leave behind significant scarring and take a long time to cure.
Burns classified as being of the fourth degree are those that have caused enough damage to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These burns pose a serious threat to life and frequently necessitate amputation.
Burns’ Common Causes
As was already established, there are numerous reasons why people get burned. Some of the most typical causes are listed below:
Electrical burn injuries are brought on by coming into touch with electricity at a high voltage. The risk of these wounds is always high for anyone working in the electrical industry. The energy leaving the body causes the burn.
When skin comes into touch with an object or surface that is hotter than 115 degrees Fahrenheit, thermal burn injuries happen. Flame, steam, hot liquids, or heated surfaces can all qualify as this.
Burns caused by flammable clothing still happen despite the fact that American apparel must abide by the Flammable Fabrics Act. These thermal burns are particularly risky since the flame spreads quickly through clothing, leaving the body with extensive burns.
Automobile burn injuries – Flames that are typically present after auto accidents can result in thermal burns. These fires are highly severe since gasoline can frequently start them or make them worse.
Chemical burns – Chemical burns happen when extremely potent acids or alkaloids come into contact with the skin. Strong chemicals are frequently used in industrial facilities and laboratories, putting personnel there at risk for chemical burns. Numerous potent chemicals can disintegrate skin and are challenging to wash off.
Radiation burn injuries – For example, exposure to nuclear radiation, x-rays, ultraviolet light, sunshine, and tanning beds can result in these burns.
Inhaling hot air from a fire, gases from chemical spills, or other poisonous vapors are among the common causes of inhalation burn injuries, which in turn cause inflammation in the respiratory system. These injuries often occur during incidents such as house fires, industrial accidents, or exposure to hazardous materials, where individuals may unknowingly breathe in dangerous substances
Effects of Serious Burn Injuries
Skin scarring will result from severe burns. The skin loses many of its typical properties as a result of these scars. Following are a few effects of severe burn injuries:
- Elasticity loss
- Loss of sweat glands and sweating ability
- Loss of capacity for healing and regrowth
- Diminished sensation of touch
- Infection risk
- Loss of hair growth capacity
- Constant need for sun and other environmental protection
How to Respond if You’ve Had a Burn Injury
After receiving medical attention, you might wish to speak with a reliable lawyer to see whether you qualify for compensation for your injuries.
If own a burned home, you might also want to think about selling it. You’ll be able to skip a drawn-out repair procedure by doing this. Instead, concentrate on getting your wounds better.
We Buy Fire Damaged Houses purchases burned homes in their current state for cash only. Complete the brief form below to check if your home is eligible for a free quote.
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash