The American Burn Association reports that, in the U.S. alone, approximately 400,000 people receive medical treatment for burn injuries each year. In 2018, there were 3,655 fatalities caused by fire and smoke inhalation. That same year, 40,000 more people were treated in hospitals for burn-related injuries. While most of us have experienced minor burns and recovered without incidences, thousands of others have suffered debilitating consequences from burn injuries. The pain and damage sustained from burns can not only be severe, but permanent. This is why a National Burn Awareness Week was established and is annually observed during the first week of February. Each year, this week seeks to make the public aware of how critical it is to work towards better fire safety and educate about burn prevention methods.
This Year’s Theme for National Burn Awareness Week
For 2020, the National Burn Awareness theme is: “Contact Burns—Hot Surfaces Damage Skin!” The theme focuses on the point that contact burns are far too common and can be preventable when proper care is taken. The primary causes of contact burns include:
- Fire
- Scalds
- Contact with hot objects
- Contact with electricity
- Chemical contact
Each year, the National Burn Awareness theme changes, but the spirit of the week remains the same. It is a time for all different groups of people to bring increased awareness to people across the U.S. about the fact that burns commonly occur and, more often than not, they are preventable when due care is exercised around dangerous objects and substances. There is also information regarding advancement in burn care that is available today. Behind National Burn Awareness are burn care organizations, burn survivor support groups, public safety professionals, and groups focused on burn prevention activism.
People often overlook the tragic consequences that can be caused after sustaining a burn injury. Severe burns can cause problems such as:
- Severe pain
- Nerve damage
- Extensive scarring
- Paralysis
- Emotional pain and suffering
In severe cases, burns can prove fatal. Other times, the burn injury is so severe that a person’s entire life is negatively impacted by it. The emotional pain and suffering alone can ruin a person’s personal and professional relationships. Burn injury survivors often face:
- Extended rehabilitation
- Long term medical intervention
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of physical ability
Burns are caused by a wide range of circumstances. Some are self-inflicted and others may be caused by the negligence of someone else. Burns can be sustained due to:
- Fire
- Steam
- Hot liquids
- Stovetops
- Irons
- Heaters
- Chemicals (including chlorine and bleach)
- Electrical circuits
- Radiation
- Friction against the skin
Exposure to these dangers that can result in severe burns may be due to an unsafe property condition. It can also be due to a defective product. Furthermore, many motor vehicle accident victims sustain burn injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered a severe burn as a result of an accident caused by the negligence of another, you may be entitled to compensation through bringing a personal injury action.
Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorneys
Burn injuries are just one of the countless injuries that a person can suffer due to the negligent action or inaction of another. The devastating consequences of sustaining a burn injury can impact the rest of a person’s life. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn caused by the negligence of someone else, the trusted personal injury Attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy are here to fight to enforce your legal right to recover full and fair compensation for the harm you have suffered. Contact us today.
