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Common causes of burn injuries

On Behalf of | Aug 19, 2021 | personal injury

The more layers of skin a burn injury affects, the more severe it is. A full-thickness burn is the most serious type, extending through all the layers of the skin and requiring grafts to heal. A partial-thickness burn affects fewer layers but may still be serious enough to require skin grafting.

According to the American Burn Association, accidental burns that are serious enough to cause injury to have several possible causes.

Flame or fire

Fire or flame is responsible for 43% of all serious burn injuries. According to the Family Doctor, having the chimney and electrical wiring in the home inspected periodically can help prevent house fires. Smoke detectors do not prevent fires, but they do alert the occupants of a building to the danger so that they can evacuate. Nevertheless, burn injuries can also result from a fire that is small and under control, such as a candle flame, if one gets too close to it.

Scalding liquid

If water or another fluid gets hot enough, it can cause burn injuries if its splashes onto the skin. This type of injury often occurs when cooking. It can also occur if the hot water heater is turned up too high. The temperature on the hot water heater should not be any higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Contact with hot objects

If the skin comes in contact with a hot object, it can cause a burn injury. For example, while doing the laundry, one should take care that the heated metal of iron does not come in contact with the skin. The upholstery and seatbelt buckles of a car that has sat for some time in the sun may become hot enough to cause second-degree burns.

Burn injuries may result from the negligence of others. For example, a defective product could cause burns or scalds, or someone’s carelessness or recklessness could start a fire.

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