San Diego Burn Injury Attorney ~

There are three levels of burns:

First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of the skin. They cause pain, redness, and swelling.
Second-degree(partial thickness) burns affect both the outer and underlying layer of skin. They cause pain, redness, swelling, and blistering.
Third-degree (full thickness) burns extend into deeper tissues. They cause white or blackened, charred skin that may be numb.

Considerations

Before giving first aid, evaluate how extensively burned the person is and try to determine the depth of the most serious part of the burn. Then treat the entire burn accordingly. If in doubt, treat it as a severe burn.

By giving immediate first-aid before professional medical help arrives, you can help lessen the severity of the burn. Prompt medical attention to serious burns can help prevent scarring, disability, and deformity. Burns on the face, hands, feet, and genitals can be particularly serious.

Children under age 4 and adults over age 60 have a higher chance of complications and death from severe burns.

In case of a fire, you and the others there are at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Anyone with symptoms of headache, numbness, weakness, or chest pain should be tested.

Causes

Burns can be caused by dry heat (like fire), wet heat (such as steam or hot liquids), radiation, friction, heated objects, the sun, electricity, or chemicals.

Thermal burns are the most common type. Thermal burns occur when hot metals, scalding liquids, steam, or flames come in contact with your skin. These are frequently the result of fires, automobile accidents, playing with matches, improperly stored gasoline, space heaters, and electrical malfunctions. Other causes include unsafe handling of firecrackers and kitchen accidents (such as a child climbing on top of a stove or grabbing a hot iron).

Burns to your airways can be caused by inhaling smoke, steam, superheated air, or toxic fumes, often in a poorly ventilated space.

Burns in children are sometimes traced to parental abuse.

Symptoms

Blisters
Pain (the degree of pain is not related to the severity of the burn -- the most serious burns can be painless)
Peeling skin
Red skin
Shock (watch for pale and clammy skin, weakness, bluish lips and fingernails, and a drop in alertness)
Swelling
White or charred skin

Symptoms of an airway burn:

Charred mouth; burned lips
Burns on the head, face, or neck
Wheezing
Change in voice
Difficulty breathing; coughing
Singed nose hairs or eyebrows
Dark, carbon-stained mucus

First Aid

For Minor Burns

If the skin is unbroken, run cool water over the area of the burn or soak it in a cool water bath (not ice water). Keep the area submerged for at least 5 minutes. A clean, cold, wet towel will also help reduce pain.
Calm and reassure the person.
After flushing or soaking, cover the burn with a dry, sterile bandage or clean dressing.
Protect the burn from pressure and friction.
Over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help relieve pain and swelling. Do NOT give children under 12 aspirin. Once the skin has cooled, moisturizing lotion also can help.
Minor burns will usually heal without further treatment. However, if a second-degree burn covers an area more than 2 to 3 inches in diameter, or if it is located on the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, or a major joint, treat the burn as a major burn.
Make sure the person is up to date on tetanus immunization.

For Major Burns

If someone is on fire, tell the person to stop, drop, and roll. Wrap the person in thick material to smother the flames (a wool or cotton coat, rug, or blanket). Douse the person with water.
Call 911.
Make sure that the person is no longer in contact with smoldering materials. However, do NOT remove burned clothing that is stuck to the skin.
Make sure the person is breathing. If breathing has stopped, or if the person's airways are blocked, open the airways. If necessary, begin rescue breathing and CPR.
Cover the burn area with a dry sterile bandage (if available) or clean cloth. A sheet will do if the burned area is large. Do NOT apply any ointments. Avoid breaking burn blisters.
If fingers or toes have been burned, separate them with dry, sterile, nonadhesive dressings.
Elevate the body part that is burned above the level of the heart. Protect the burn area from pressure and friction.
Take steps to prevent shock. Lay the person flat, elevate the feet about 12 inches, and cover the person with a coat or blanket. However, do NOT place the person in this shock position if a head, neck, back, or leg injury is suspected or if it makes the person uncomfortable.
Continue to monitor the person's vital signs until medical help arrives. This means pulse, rate of breathing, and blood pressure.

DO NOT

Do NOT apply ointment, butter, ice, medications, cream, oil spray, or any household remedy to a severe burn.
Do NOT breathe, blow, or cough on the burn.
Do NOT disturb blistered or dead skin.
Do NOT remove clothing that is stuck to the skin.
Do NOT give the person anything by mouth, if there is a severe burn.
Do NOT immerse a severe burn in cold water. This can cause shock.
Do NOT place a pillow under the person's head if there is an airways burn. This can close the airways.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call 911 if:

The burn is extensive (the size of your palm or larger).
The burn is severe (third degree).
You aren't sure how serious it is.
The burn is caused by chemicals or electricity.
The person shows signs of shock.
The person inhaled smoke.
Physical abuse is the known or suspected cause of the burn.

Call a doctor if your pain is still present after 48 hours.

Call immediately if signs of infection develop. These signs include increased pain, redness, swelling, drainage or pus from the burn, swollen lymph nodes, red streaks spreading from the burn, or fever.

Also call immediately if there are signs of dehydration: thirst, dry skin, dizziness, lightheadedness, or decreased urination. Children, elderly, and anyone with a weakened immune system (for example, HIV) should be seen right away.

Prevention

To help prevent burns:

Install smoke alarms in your home. Check and change batteries regularly.
Teach children about fire safety and the hazards of matches and fireworks.
Keep children from climbing on top of a stove or grabbing hot items like irons and oven doors.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so that children can't grab them and they can't be accidentally knocked over.
Place fire extinguishers in key locations at home, work, and school.
Remove electrical cords from floors and keep them out of reach.
Know about and practice fire escape routes at home, work, and school.
Set temperature of water heater at 120 degrees or less.

(Content from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000030.htm

Other Links:

Able Data
ABLEDATA is a federally funded project whose primary mission is to provide information on assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources to consumers, organizations, professionals, and caregivers within the United States. The ABLEDATA database contains information on more than 30,000 assistive technology products (over 20,000 of which are currently available); detailed descriptions of each product including price and company information; and information on non-commercial prototypes, customized and one-of-a-kind products, and do-it-yourself designs. Note: ABLEDATA does not produce, distribute or sell any of the products listed on the database, but they will provide you with information on how to contact manufacturers or distributors of these products. They also do not produce any type of catalog.

URL: http://www.abledata.com/

Alberta Burn Rehab Society
Alberta Burn Rehab Society is a site for burn survivors, team professionals, adults and children.

URL: http://www.burnrehab.com/

Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation
At the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation find research details, burn prevention and fire safety informaton.

URL: http://www.aarbf.org/index.htm

American Burn Association
[From the site:] The American Burn Association is dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by burn injury through patient care, education, research and advocacy.

URL: http://www.ameriburn.org/

American Physical Therapy Association
The American Physical Therapy Association offers a list of publications of interest to parents and educators of handicapped children.

URL: http://www.apta.org

British Columbia's Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund
The Burn Fund is a registered non-profit charity established in 1978 by the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association. Burn Fund volunteers and members are dedicated to burn prevention, as well as survivor support and recovery programs in the province of British Columbia.

URL: http://www.burnfund.org/

Burns Support Groups Database
The Burns Support Groups Database is a list of support groups in America for burn victims.

URL: http://www.burnsupportgroupsdatabase.com/

Burn Foundation
The Burn Foundation is a Philadelphia based not-for-profit organization that offers prevention tips and support.

URL: http://www.burnfoundation.org/

The Burn Institute
The Burn Institute is a non-profit health agency dedicated to reducing burn injuries and deaths through fire and burn prevention education, burn survivor support programs and the funding of burn care research and treatment.

URL: http://www.burninstitute.org/

Burn Survivor Resource Center
Burnsurvivor Resource Center is an exhaustive resource for burn injury victims, their families and those who have experienced catastrophic burn injuries.

URL: http://www.burnsurvivor.com/

Burn Survivors Online
Burn Survivors Online provides information and support for burn survivors and their families throughout the world.

URL: http://www.burnsurvivorsonline.com/

Burn Survivors Throughout The World, Inc.
Burn Survivors Throughout The World, Inc. (BSTTW) is an International 501 (c)(3) Non Profit Organization offering memberships, peer support, education, advocacy, medical referrals, public awareness for the burn survivor community, etc. They offer a support team, emergency and public chats, articles, poems, polls, newsletters, and more.

URL: http://www.burnsurvivorsttw.org/home.html

Disability Resources Monthly
Disability Resources Monthly is a web resource focused on disability issues. Includes publications, software, videos and databases.

URL: http://www.disabilityresources.org/

International Society for Burn Injuries
Founded in 1965, the International Society for Burn Injuries disseminates knowledge and provides valuable information on living with burn injury.

URL: http://www.worldburn.org/

Johns Hopkins University Burn Center
With links to their clinical services, patient services, and research, Johns Hopkins Burn Center provides burn victims and their families with comprehensive treatment and information.

URL: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/burn

Pacer
Pacer provides assistance to individuals and families. Includes workshops and materials for parents, professionals and leadership in securing free and appropriate education for all children.

URL: http://www.pacer.org/

The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors
[From the site:] The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors is the leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering anyone affected by a burn injury through peer support, education, and advocacy.

URL: http://www.phoenix-society.org/

Regions Hospital Burn Center
Regions Hospital is known for saving lives with the Level I Trauma Center, but also offers exceptional care in many other areas such as heart, stroke and neurosciences.

URL: http://www.regionshospital.com/

Shriners
Find both Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children, providing resources for burn victims.

URL: http://www.shrinershq.org/

Kerckhoff Law, APC, is a San Diego personal injury law firm handling wrongful death, serious personal injury, and premises liability cases in southern California. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one due to another's negligence, contact A. Jason Kerckhoff toll-free at 866-606-3059 for a free confidential consultation.

A. Jason Kerckhoff, Esq.

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