Burn Injuries: Medical Attention and Injury Claims

Burn injury can damage blood vessels, nerves, skin, and internal organs especially when this involves the face, genitals, head, and chest. Depending on the claim, you may be entitled to compensation for Burn Injuries you suffer.

Symptoms of Burns

Symptoms of burns may depend on the severity of the injuries and the affected area.

• In first-degree burns (such as sunburn), the skin turns into red and there is a minimal and tolerable pain.
• Second-degree burns can cause blistering and swelling of the affected area.
• Third-degree burn, which is the most severe case of heat injury, can cause skin to whiten or darken.  And because this injury damages the nerve and tissues, loss of sensation can happen to patients.  In some serious cases, blood circulation is cut off which can result to the loss of limbs.

Treating Minor Burns

Here are some helpful tips to treat minor burn injuries.  However, these should not be performed when the injury is extensive and sensitive parts such as the face, head, genital, and chest are involved.

1. Rinse the affected area with soap and water.
2. Put a clean and moist cloth on the affected area.
3. Some dermatologists recommend pouring milk onto the burned area since it contains fats which can repair the damaged skin.
4. When the skin ruptures, remove the dead skin using sterile tweezers or scissors.
5. When the burn is caused by a chemical, use running water to flush it until the throbbing pain stops.
6. Take antibiotics to prevent infection for at least five days.  However, patients should tell their doctors about drug allergies so the right antibiotics can be prescribed.
7. When there is pain, 1-2 acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) can be taken.

When to Seek Medical Attention

When more than 10 percent of the body has sustained burn injuries, it is important to immediately seek medical attention to prevent scarring and infection.  For reference, the palm is approximately 1 percent of the body surface area.

Burn Injuries Due to Negligence and Injury Claims

If a burn was caused by the negligence of someone else, remedies are available per tort laws, and will cover any medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost work and wages and more. If your burn injury was caused by another party, you may want to consider talking to an attorney to find out if there are legal remedies to which you are entitled.

• This article is provided for informational purposes only. If you need help with an Injury Law question, click here to consult with Rodney Mesriani or a Personal Injury Lawyer in your area.

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