One of the most common types of injuries that a person may experience in their life are those caused by burns to any part of the body. Depending on the severity of the burn, a person can easily develop more serious conditions that are related to the burn. This makes it imperative to seek medical treatment when the severity of the burn indicates that it is necessary to avoid further harm.
There are 6 different recognized types of burns and each one is unique in how it presents itself and each of the unique types of burns with requires a different treatment method to deliver the best level of care in order to reduce the possibility of further damage to the body. Below is a brief description of each of the 6 types of burns.
6 Different Types of Burns
Thermal Burns – Thermal burns are the most common of all types of burns and result most from coming into contact with a heat source that rapidly dries out the skin. These types of burns occur when the skin of the body comes in contact with a very hot metal, scalding hot water or even a direct flame can all cause a thermal type of burn to the skin.
Cold Burns – This type of burn also referred to as frostbite, occurs when the skin is damaged by extreme cold. The exposure of bare skin to freezing cold temperature is the most common cause of frostbite. In extreme cases, frostbite can also be caused by long-term contact with freezing cold surfaces.
Friction Burns – Friction burns are duly named by the way they cause damage to the skin. It commonly occurs when the skin is rubbed forcibly against a coarse surface such as concrete, asphalt or carpeting. The force against the skin heats it up and at the same time scrapes several layers of skin.
Chemical Burns – This type of burn occurs from accidental contact with strong cleaners, solvents, and detergents. Any of the three types of chemicals can cause severe damage.
Radiation Burns – This type of burns that are commonly caused by prolonged exposure to the sun. The rays of the sun cause serious damage to skin depending on the amount of exposure. Radiation burns can also be caused by repeated and long-term exposure to extras
Electrical Burns – This type of burn is caused when the skin comes in contact with electrical current.
4 Levels of Burns
- 1st Degree Burn
- 2nd Degree Burn
- 3rd Degree Burn
- 4th Degree Burn
How best to treat each level of burn
It is very important that for each of the four levels of burns you need to recognize that it is important to treat the damage done to the skin. Since the extent of the damage that is done to the skin with each level increases you need to be sure that you get the proper amount of care.
1st Degree Burn – Self-treatment by soaking in cool water for at least 5 minutes, taking a pain reliever to reduce the pain. Liberally apply a layer of aloe vera gel with an anesthetic to further reduce pain.
2nd Degree Burn – With a second-degree burn with the blistering skin you want to keep it clean and covered to prevent infection in case the blisters burst. You should seek professional help at a clinic or ER depending on the severity.
3rd Degree Burns – This is an extremely serious burn which causes damage through all layers of the skin and often includes charred skin. This must be kept clean and covered at all costs as it is far too easy for infection inside the wound. It is imperative that you seek immediate treatment in the nearest ER.
4th Degree Burns – This is the most severe of all burns and considered life-threatening no matter how much of the skin is compromised. This type of burn extends down to and may include actual burning of the bones, muscles, and tendons. It is imperative that you seek immediate treatment in the nearest ER.
At The JLF Firm, our skilled legal team understands exactly how difficult it can be to manage the claims process after an injury. Our El Monte personal injury attorneys are dedicated to holding insurance companies accountable for the injuries caused by their insureds. We offer all our new clients a free initial consultation, so reach out today to discuss the details of your case. To set up a time to talk, you can call us at 562-222-3075 or contact us via our online form. We are here and ready to help you recover damages after a burn accident injury.
