What Are the Types and Degrees of Burn Injuries?

Burns are among the most serious of injuries. Not only is suffering burn injuries terrifying and painful, but they leave severe scarring and disfigurement. In the worst cases, burns can be catastrophic or fatal. Even relatively minor burns are painful due to the intense inflammation process that occurs when the skin is exposed to extreme heat. Inflammation releases cytokines and prostaglandins which are the biggest triggers of pain receptors.

Understanding the types and degrees of burn injuries helps a recent injury victim or their loved ones to understand what’s ahead for them and what their treatment options are to maximize their recovery. Make sure to speak with an injury lawyer in Oklahoma City for legal guidance if you are suffering from a burn injury.

What Is a First-Degree Burn?

First-degree burns are the most mild burn injuries, impacting only the surface of the skin. These superficial burns injure the epidermis layer. The burn site appears red and inflamed but remains dry and doesn’t blister, seep, or crack First-degree burns result from direct heat exposure to the skin through contact with hot surfaces, scalding liquids or steam, brief exposure to flames, or prolonged skin exposure to the hot sun.

First-degree burns are treatable at home using cooling compresses, burn ointments or a layer of protecting petroleum jelly. These injuries may require a doctor’s treatment if they cover a significant area of the body, completely encircle a limb or body part, or happen to a person’s face or genital region.

What Are Second-Degree Burns?

Second-degree burns are the most common burn injuries in those seeking medical treatment. A second-degree burn affects the skin’s outer layer and through to the dermis, or the second layer of skin. Second-degree burns most often happen through direct exposure to flame, impacts from boiling water, contact with very hot objects, or through electrocution. Second-degree burns are usually moist and seeping and may have a tight, shiny red or dark brown appearance. Second-degree burns eventually blister and peel.

If the burn is in a small area and not on the face or genitals it’s treatable at home by cool-water baths for ten to fifteen minutes before loosely covering the burned area with a bandage. Seek medical treatment for widespread second-degree burns or for second-degree burns on the face or private parts. Burn ointments help to prevent infection and promote healing in second-degree burns. In some cases, doctors must carefully debride the area or remove dead skin, and treat the patient with systemic antibiotics and pain medications.

Third-Degree Burn Injuries

Third-degree burns burn through all three skin layers and impact the fat layer. These burns are serious and require medical treatment. When a large percentage of the body sustains third-degree burns they are life-threatening. A third-degree burn often lacks the intense pain of surface burns because it destroys the nerves in the area which may appear leathery, blackened, or charred. Sweat glands and hair follicles are often permanently damaged.

Third-degree burns require hospitalization and the removal of dead, burned tissue, coating with protective burn ointments, and sterile dressings. Infection is an imminent threat due to the compromised protection of the skin. IV treatments replace fluids and deliver critical antibiotics. Skin grafts are often necessary to replace destroyed tissue. Later surgeries may follow to restore function and improve a burn patient’s appearance.

Fourth and Fifth-Degree Burns

Fourth-degree burns are deadly without skilled treatment. They destroy the victim’s skin, fat, and muscle layer. If the burn damages the patient’s bone it becomes a fifth-degree burn. These life-threatening burns need critical care in a special burn unit to increase the chances of survival.

It’s important to note that victims of serious structure fires may have multiple burns of varying degrees at the same time.

How Can an Oklahoma Personal Injury Lawyer Help?

Depending on the circumstances of burn injuries, the injury victim may have legal options for recovering compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and disfigurement/scarring compensation. For instance, if the burns occurred in a car accident caused by a negligent driver or in an apartment fire due to a property owner’s failure to maintain smoke detectors or fire escapes. Contact Dan Davis Law, the law firm that has recovered compensation for burn injury victims in Oklahoma City for many years.