Burn injuries are excruciating and can lead to extensive skin damage, internal injury, and even amputation. In the US, over 450,000 people received treatment for their burn injuries in 2016. Some of the most common causes of burn injuries include smoke inhalation, contact with chemicals, fire, hot liquid, electrical equipment, etc.

This article will discuss certain aspects related to burn injuries. If you suspect that you got your burn injuries due to the negligence of another party, you need to employ the services of a Baltimore burn injury lawyer. They will help you in recovering the necessary compensation for your damages.

What Are the Degrees of Burns?

Medical professionals classify burns according to their seriousness. Therefore, these are the degrees of burn injuries.

• First-Degree Burn 

When you compare first-degree burns to the others, they are milder. These burns affect the epidermis (which is the outer layer of the skin) only. They cause pain and redness to the skin without having blisters.

• Second-Degree Burn

The symptoms of this degree of burn are red, painful skin, blisters, and swelling. This type of burn is a partial thickness burn that affects the epidermis and dermis (the lower layer of skin).

• Third-Degree Burn

A third-degree burn is a full-thickness burn. This burn goes through the dermis and affects tissues that are deeper in the skin. Third-degree burns result in white, black, deep red, or charred skin. They may be painful or numb.

You should note that there are six degrees of burns. The fourth, fifth, and sixth-degree burns affect the fat, muscle, and bone, respectively. In addition, these degrees of burn usually destroy the nerve endings, making the affected areas numb.

What to Do in Case of a Minor Burn Injury

You can treat first-degree burns and minor burn injuries at home. However, the treatment of more severe burns is usually expensive. Furthermore, the victim might require rehab, surgery or skin graft, etc. Here are things you should do in the event of a minor burn injury.

• Stop the Burning

It is essential to extinguish whatever is causing the burn. For instance, you can stop contact with the hot liquid, steam, or other material causing the burn.

• Remove Constrictive Materials

After a burn or contact with hot materials, you need to do away with tight clothing or jewelry. This is because burns can swell quickly.

• Cool the Burn

Hold the burned skin under cool running water. Furthermore, you can immerse it in cool water or use a cold compress until the pain subsides.

• Protect the Burn Injury

Additionally, it is vital to cover the burn with a sterile, non-adhesive bandage. This will prevent bacteria or other forms of infection from getting to the injury.

• Use Pain Relievers

In addition to the above, you can use over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and so on. These reduce the pain of the burn injury and bring relief.

Don’t Do These to a Burn Injury

Some victims of burn injuries make inevitable mistakes that make their burn injuries even worse than they are supposed to be. So, these are four things you should never do to your burn injury.

• Use Ice Water or Ice

Your first instinct after a burn injury might be to apply ice-cold water or an ice pack to your injury. However, it would be best to discontinue because temperatures too cold can damage the tissue even more.

• Apply Butter

Some people believe applying butter to your injury might help it. However, using butter or other substances to your burns, like mayonnaise and toothpaste, will only make it worse. Instead, you can apply antimicrobial ointment to the injury.

• Pop the Blisters

There are instances when your burn injury turns into blisters. If this is the case, do not pop the blister on your own. Instead, consult a doctor if your blister hurts.

• Exposure to Sun

You must not expose the burn for at least three days. Therefore, when leaving your house, keep the injury covered. This is because the sun’s rays can cause even more blistering.

Get a Burn Injury Lawyer From Pinder Plotkin, LLC, To Help With Your Case

Being a victim of personal injuries, like a burn injury, can be very devastating. At Pinder Plotkin LLC, we understand this and are willing to do anything to make you feel better. In addition, our team of Baltimore burn injury attorneys are experienced in handling cases like yours.

So, while you focus on recovery, we will be at the battlefront fighting for your case. Contact us today and speak to our 24/7 customer service representative, who will link you up with our skilled lawyers. You can be sure to get the best results.