Types and Degrees of Burns

If you get into an accident, such as a workplace accident, car crash, or chemical-related accident, you could develop burns. Burns are painful wounds caused by tissue damage to the skin. Burns can be caused by car accidents, electrical currents, scalds, hot objects, and chemicals.

Burns can be catastrophic injuries, depending on the severity. Severe burns can lead to a loss of limbs, loss of mobility, disfigurement, scarring, and recurrent infections. Treatment can be extensive and may require a victim to go to a burn center.

Burns can vary in degree, plus there are many types of burns. If you have suffered a burn, another party may be to blame. Here is what you need to know about burns.

Types of Burns 

There are four main types of burns:

• Thermal burns. This is the most common type of burn. Thermal burns occur when heat sources raise the temperature of the skin and tissues, which causes tissue cell death or charring. Flames, steam, hot metals, and scalding liquids can cause thermal burns when coming into contact with the skin.
• Electrical burns. These burns are from electrical current, either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC).
• Chemical burns. Chemical burns occur due to strong acids, detergents, or solvents coming into contact with the skin or eyes.
• Radiation burns. These burns are due to prolonged exposure to sources of radiation, such as X-rays and the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

Degrees of Burns

There are four degrees of burns:

• First-degree burns. These are also known as superficial burns. They affect only the epidermis, or outer layer, of skin. The burn site is red and painful, with no blisters. A typical sunburn is an example of a first-degree burn.
• Second-degree burns. These are partial-thickness burns that involve the epidermis and part of the dermis layer of skin. The burn site appears red and painful, like a first-degree burn, but will also have swelling and blisters.
• Third-degree burns. These are full-thickness burns that destroy the epidermis and dermis. They may also extend into the layer of fat. The skin may appear stiff, leathery, waxy, and white.
• Fourth-degree burns. These are the most severe burns, as they affect all layers of the skin, muscles, tendons, and bones. The burn site appears white or charred. The nerve endings are destroyed, so there is no feeling.

Contact Us Today

Burns are a serious injury that can damage skin and nerve endings and change a person’s life forever. Many times, they are caused by someone else’s negligence, which means you can recover compensation.

Get help from the experienced personal injury attorneys at Power & Power Law. We know that the medical and financial consequences of a catastrophic physical injury such as a burn can rise quickly and exponentially. Call our office at (907) 222-9990 or email us at admin@akpowerlaw.com for a free consultation.