The severity of a burn is determined by the amount of layers and skin tissues that are burned. The following are the degrees of burns.

First degree burn

Also known as a thin or superficial burn, first degree burns cause mild tissue damage and only affect the epidermis (outer layer of skin). The site of the burn is painful to the touch and looks red, dry, and free of blisters. It is also a bit swollen and turns white when pressed. After one or two days, the skin above the burn may fall off. A minor sunburn is a common type of a first degree burn.

Second degree burn

Also known as a superficial partial-thickness or deep partial-thickness burn, a second degree burn infiltrates the epidermis and reaches the dermis (layer under the epidermis). The burnt region is extremely sore, red, and blistered. In some cases, it may be swollen as well.

Third degree burn

Also known as a full-thickness burn, this type of burn damages or completely destroys all three layers of skin including the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layer. Muscles, tendons, and bones lying beneath the subcutaneous layer could also be harmed. Damaged skin appears to be white or charred and black. The victim may feel little or no pain at the site of burn due to the destruction of nerve endings.

Fourth degree burn

These serious burn injuries extend through the skin to injure muscle, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and even bones. Fourth degree burns are extremely serious and always require medical attention.

Burns can be broken down further into three more classifications: minor, moderate, and severe. To make a diagnosis using these categories, a doctor needs to estimate the percentage of the body's surface that has suffered burn injury. Making an approximation of the total burn area is essential because it allows them to forecast the efficiency by which the burn injury will heal and calculate the probability of complications. Charts help doctors conclude what fraction of the body has been burned. For instance, an adult arm makes up about nine percent of the total body.

A burn injury can be categorized even further, depending on the cause of the burn. A heat burn injury, also known as a thermal burn, is caused by hot objects, steam or fire. Many children and elderly people experience a specific type of thermal injury, known as a scald burn, after coming in contact with a hot liquid. Chemical burns occur after coming in contact with industrial or household chemicals in either a gas, liquid or solid form. An electrical burn injury is caused by electrical sources or lightning. Burn injuries caused by x-rays, radiation treatment, tanning booths, sunlamps or the sun are known as radiation burns. Friction burns occur after contact with roads, carpets or gym floors and are often seen in athletes.

Common burn symptoms include:

After a burn accident, severe burn victims may also go into shock, a condition which can be life-threatening. Shock can be the result of dehydration (fluid escaping through open wounds) and/or limited blood flow. Symptoms of shock include:

Inhalation injuries can also occur after breathing in gases. Many toxic substances can be found in fire smoke. Burns that occur with inhalation injuries significantly increase the victim's chance of death. The three types of inhalation injuries are damage from heat inhalation, systemic toxins and smoke inhalation. Heat inhalation can cause lung burns as well as burn damage to the airways and mucous membranes. Systemic toxin poisoning can cause unconsciousness in a burn victim, as these toxins affect the body's ability to absorb oxygen. Carbon monoxide poisoning can go undetected until the victim enters a coma. Smoke inhalation is often overlooked because of burns on the body, but it is the cause of 60% to 80% of deaths from burn injuries.

Burn accidents and inhalation injuries can occur when you least expect it. Burn injury attorneys help burn victims obtain compensation for medical bills and painful rehabilitation. Many times burns can be prevented. Contact a burn injury lawyer today for help with your burn injury case if you believe your injuries were the result of a defective device or another's negligence.

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