Your skin can be burned due to many different things, including electricity, chemicals, or heat. There are many symptoms of burns that you should be aware of, such as skin peeling, redness, blistering, pain, and swelling.
Some burns are minor and will heal on their own without much intervention. However, more serious burns may take weeks or even months to heal. Serious burns can have serious consequences, and can cause pain that will linger for a prolonged period of time.
Here we will discuss the steps that you should take after you have been burned.
Types of Burns
There are three types of burns that you should be aware of, namely, first, second, and third-degree burns.
First-degree burns, as the name implies, affects the top-most layer of the skin. Most first-degree burns can be treated at home, and do not require a trip to the local emergency department. Second-degree burns will affect both the first and second layer of the skin. Second-degree burns will require hospitalization in order to treat the injury.As for third-degree burns, they will affect all layers of the skin, as well as the tissue that is situated below the skin. Third-degree burns tend to be excruciatingly painful, and often cause long-term or permanent damage.
Burns are also categorized according to the root cause of the injury. For example, chemical burns are caused by caustic agents, which may include alkaloids, acids, or chemicals. Thermal burns may be caused by hot objects, flames, scalding hot liquids, and even explosions. Electrical burns are caused when an electrical current moves through the victim’s body, which may cause death in some cases.
Steps to Take After a Burn Injury
There are three crucial steps that you should take if you or someone that you know suffers a burn injury.
First, you should seek emergency medical care. Call your doctor and ask to be seen immediately. If they are unable to accomodate you, then go to the hospital. Second, you should document your injuries. Record footage as evidence, and take photos as well. You may also want to write a report to help track the progress of your injury and/or the treatments that have been administered. Third, you should contact a lawyer that has a proven track record of success. Personal injury lawyers specialise in injury law, and will focus on getting the justice that you deserve.
Compensation for injury may be difficult to obtain without having a qualified lawyer by your side in order to help navigate the treacherous waters of litigation.
Get Legal Help
If you or someone that you know has suffered a burn injury, then you will need to hire a professional legal team to help you fight as you recover. They will take all of the necessary steps on your behalf as you or your loved one heals.
Your legal team will carefully review your case. They will go over your claim in order to determine the party that is liable for your injuries. They will also help you obtain restitution for other, non-bodily damages, which may include financial compensation for lost income, as well as psychological trauma. For example, you may feel insecure about your burns, especially if they are noticeably visible to others, such as burns to your face.
You may also need to find another profession due to the injuries that you have sustained. For example, if the burns are severe, you may not be able to perform operations if you are a surgeon. Or, if you work in the beauty industry, then you may be forced to seek another line of work due to the aesthetic damages that you incurred.
Unfortunately, accidents are a part of life for many. Workplace accidents are fairly common due to negligence, incompetence, and malpractice. Shoddy equipment, inebriated workers, and ignored work hazards can cause serious accidents, such as chemical spills, fires, and electrocution.
Occupations that are Most at Risk for Burn Injuries
It is possible for a worker to be injured or burned in virtually any work environment. However, certain professions carry more risks than others. For example, healthcare workers, electricians, firefighters, and construction workers are at elevated risk of being injured while on the job. Mechanics, janitorial workers, outdoor workers, landscapers, chefs, servers, and cooks are also at high risk of being burned seriously while at work.
If you or someone that you care about works in any of the aforementioned professions, then we would advise that you always take the necessary precautions while at work. Hold your co-workers accountable for their actions as well, as everyone will need to be on the same team in order to reduce the risk of serious injuries. Unfortunately, many people do not follow workplace safety protocols, leading to the hospitalization of hundreds of thousands of people every year for burn or fire injuries.
Justice Will be Served
If you have suffered burns due to the actions (or inactions) of others, then you have every right to demand retribution. Most people assume that they will be safe while at work, even though thousands of people suffer accidents every year while on the job.
Certain jobs involve the handling of delicate and dangerous materials and equipment. Even the most trained and educated workers can have an accident that can cause harm or prove fatal. Therefore, it is best to be prepared in advance. A contingency plan should be devised in the event that you or a loved one one becomes seriously injured.
Accidents can also happen at home, while on the road, or virtually anywhere else for that matter. The goal, then, is to prepare for a worst-case scenario by taking a proactive approach to protecting your well-being.
We hope that you will follow the aforementioned steps that we have outlined in the event that you or someone that you care deeply about suffers first, second, or third-degree burns. You are not alone, and you should never have to suffer in silence.
AUTHOR’S BIO:
Erin Gregory is a blogger in Toronto. She is currently working as a Community Manager for several small businesses. She has graduated with honors from the University of British Columbia with a dual degree in Business Administration and Creative Writing. He also likes to research various topics related to health, law, finance and business solutions.
