There are four main types of burns:

• Thermal burns - caused by contact with flames, steam, hot water (or other hot liquids), and other sources of intense heat.
• Light burns - caused by contact with sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet light.
• Chemical burns - caused by contact with an acid or an alkali.
• Radiation burns - caused by contact with nuclear radiation or ultraviolet light.

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How is the severity of a burn determined?
The severity of a burn injury will fall into one of three categories:

First-degree burns - only the first layer of skin is burned. First-degree burns are characterized by reddened skin that will heal in approximately one week and may peel.

Second-degree burns - the first and second layer of skin is burned. Second-degree burns are characterized by moist-looking skin and blisters.

Third-degree burns - all layers of the skin are burned and the underlying tissue is damaged. Third-degree burns are characterized by a white or black dry wound. Permanent scarring is inevitable.

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How common are burn injuries?
In the United States, approximately 2.4 million burn injuries are reported per year. According to the American Burn Association, each year in the United States, 1.1 million burn injuries require medical attention.

• Approximately 45,000 of these require hospitalization, and roughly half of those burn patients are admitted to a specialized burn unit.
• Each year, approximately 4,500 of these people die.

Up to 10,000 people in the United States die every year of burn-related infections; pneumonia is the most common infectious complication among hospitalized burn patients.

• Twenty years ago, burns covering half the body were routinely fatal; today, patients with burns covering 90 percent of the body can survive (but often with permanent impairments).
• Practices that have contributed to this improvement include advances in resuscitation, wound cleaning and follow-up care, nutritional support, and infection control.
• Grafting with natural or artificial materials can also speed the healing process

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How long does burn recovery take?
Recovery varies with location and type of injury, but scar tissue does not mature for at least a year and can sometimes require surgery.

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How can I prevent a scalding burn from hot water in my home?
Scalding can occur when a child spills hot liquid on himself or an adult misjudges the temperature of bath water. Scald burns can be the most severe of burn injuries.

You should turn down the temperature on your hot water heater and have it set for 51.7 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) or less at exit, the hot water IN your tank should be at least 145 Fahrenheit to destroy certain bacteria living in the tank. Shower heads that reduce water temperature are available at most locations selling plumbing supplies.

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Is there a danger of microwaves and scalding?
The FDA has received reports of serious skin burns or scalding injuries around people's hands and faces as a result of hot water erupting out of a cup after it had been over-heated in a microwave oven. Over-heating of water in a cup can result in superheated water (past its boiling temperature) without appearing to boil.

This type of phenomena occurs if water is heated in a clean cup. If foreign materials such as instant coffee or sugar are added before heating, the risk is greatly reduced. If superheating has occurred, a slight disturbance or movement such as picking up the cup, or pouring in a spoon full of instant coffee, may result in a violent eruption with the boiling water exploding out of the cup.

What Can Consumers Do to Avoid Super-Heated Water?

• Follow the precautions and recommendations found in the microwave oven instruction manuals, specifically the heating time.
• Do not use excessive amounts of time when heating water or liquids in the microwave oven.
• Determine the best time setting to heat the water just to the desired temperature and use that time setting regularly.

If you feel you have been the victim of such an injury, and the injury resulted from the careless or negligent actions of another, it is important that you do nothing that might adversely affect or prejudice your rights. Do not give any statements, written or recorded, without first consulting with an attorney. Do not sign authorizations permitting an insurance company to access your medical providers or records.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through team work and the use of our considerable resources and experience. Whether we?re gathering evidence, giving advice, or talking with insurance companies, we are always your representative.