We took a look at some numbers presented by the American Burn Association (ABA). The numbers listed for 2016 actually appear reflective of treatment in 2011. Nationally, it is estimated that at least 486,000 people received at least emergency room treatment for burn injuries. This data includes the 40,000 who receive inpatient care. 30,000 are actually admitted to hospital burn centers.
Despite superior burn treatment, a number of people will die from these injuries. This also takes into account those who succumb to smoke inhalation. The good news is that the 2014-2015 statistics show that almost 97% of burn injury victims are survivors.
Let’s take a look at the most common burn injuries.
The Statistics Regarding the Most Common Burn Injuries
Would it surprise you to learn that more males suffer from burn injuries than females? How about the fact that nearly three quarters of burn injuries happen at home? We personally found this data somewhat amazing.
So, let’s go through some of the most common causes of burn injuries:
- Flames or fire: According to the 2014 National Burn Repository Report, 43% of injuries are related to fire or flame.
- Scalding Injuries: Scalding injuries account for 34% of injuries. Scalding injuries can occur from something as simple as an apartment building that keeps the hot water at too high a temperature.
- Contact with Hot Objects: 9% of all burns cited in the National Burn Repository Report were because someone came in contact with a hot object. They may have picked up a hot iron or leaned against an oven.
- Electrical Injuries: Some consumers are not aware that they can sustain electrical burns. They account for 4% of burn injuries. An electrical burn occurs when electricity passes through the body. Often, these types of injuries are fatal.
- Chemical Burns: We previously wrote about chemical burns. On a national level, 3% of burns occur because of chemical exposure. Different chemical reactions can prove to be highly dangerous.
What You should do if You’ve Suffered a Burn Injury
Obviously, not all burn injuries are the fault of others. The first thing you should do is seek immediate medical assistance. Burn injuries are considered among the most painful. In addition, the injured are subject to infection. They can be scarred for life. These are all serious matters that require medical attention.
If you have suffered a burn injury, you may want to check to see if someone else is liable. At the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, we have handled these types of cases for many years. Contact us to see how we can be of assistance.