Articles Posted in Burn Injuries

Most homes in Florida today have microwave ovens. Microwaves allow for easy reheating, cooking, and thawing. However, according to the FDA, microwave ovens can also potentially lead to serious burn injuries. According to the FDA, there have been reports of serious skin burning and scalding, especially on people’s faces and hands. This has resulted when hot water heated in a microwave overflows or erupts out of a cup because of overheating in the microwave oven.

The problem seems to stem from the fact that water in a microwave oven can easily be overheated, causing superheated water, or water that is past its boiling temperature. Even though the water does not to boil, it can in fact be superheated and can cause an eruption when removed from the microwave oven. There is no way to tell whether the water is a danger simply by looking at the fluid.

According to the FDA, the risk of burns is high especially when water is heated in a clean cup in the microwave. The risk of burn injuries is greatly reduced if other items are added to the water before heating. For example, adding instant coffee, cocoa, sugar, and other items into the water greatly reduces the risk of burning. In cases where water is superheated in the microwave, any small disturbance or movement will cause the water to violently erupt, and will cause the boiling water to explode out of the cup or container. For example, someone removing the cup from the microwave, pouring in a spoonful of coffee or sugar, may inadvertently provoke violent explosion of the water out of the cup.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a consumer alert regarding common household batteries. Studies conducted show that about approximately 3,700 people annually are treated in emergency rooms for chemical burns caused by common household batteries. About 20% of these victims, according to the CPSC, are children 16 years of age or younger.

Most of these injuries to minors and children occur when batteries rupture or overheat. There are many ways that this can happen, the CPSC reports. Using the wrong charger or re-charging batteries not meant to be recharged can cause burn injuries. Also, mixing alkaline and carbon-zinc batteries or new and old batteries in the same appliance can cause the batteries to overheat and rupture. The CPSC recommends always changing all the batteries of an appliance with all new batteries from the same pack.

Customers may also want to ensure that they are placing batteries in correctly. Placing the positive end where the negative end belongs and vice versa can cause the battery to overheat. Since children may not understand how to properly install batteries, it is important that parents always install and replace batteries themselves. Children should be warned not to play with batteries or to replace or recharge them themselves. Batteries should also be kept well out of reach of children. Curious youngsters may try to rupture a battery to see how it works or may inadvertently place the battery on a hot surface, situations which can cause the batteries to explode or cause serious burns.

While many of us assume that burns occur mainly in fires, this is not the case. Burns from hot water and from chemicals are also very common in Florida and across the country. Chemical burns, especially, can occur in car accidents, construction accidents, and in other situations where a corrosive chemical touches the skin.

If you or someone you know suffer a chemical burn, administer first aid by following these steps:

1) Call 911 or seek medical assistance at once if the burn is severe or if you are unsure about what the chemical involved is. Call the local poison control center if you know what the substance is and ask for specific first aid advice.

2) If the chemical is lime or a powdery substance, brush it off skin first. Remove the chemical by rinsing the affected area in cool, running water for at least 15 minutes.

3) Remove any clothing items or accessories that have been affected by the chemical.

4) Wrap the affected area very loosely using a clean cloth or sterile gauze.

Minor chemical burns will often heal by themselves, but it is a good idea to seek medical help to be on the safe side. Medical supervision is important in preventing infection and other complications. If you notice any of the following symptoms, the chemical burn is a medical emergency and should receive emergency medical assistance right away:

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Burn injuries in Florida each year cause serious damage. These personal injuries are not only very painful, but they can cause scarring and permanent damage to physical appearance that can be very traumatic. Serious burn wounds can even affect the tendons, muscles, and even the organs protected by the skin, causing serious injuries that can hamper mobility.

Although Florida burn injuries are very common, Florida attorneys often notice that victims of these injuries are not always fully compensated or get the help they need. Burn injuries often cause damage that requires cosmetic surgery and most medical insurance does not cover that sort of treatment. Plus, many insurers and defenders minimize the damage caused by a burn injury.

If you or a loved one have suffered a minor burn, there are several things you can do. In the case of a minor burn, hold the affected area under cool running water for 15 minutes. Avoid popping any blisters that form and avoid applying butter or ointments to the area. Cover the affected area with dry gauze. If minor burns occur on the feet, face, hands, or genitalia, contact a physician right away, since even minor burns on these areas can be more serious than they appear. Similarly, always contact a doctor right away if an infant or young child sustains a minor burn. Even minor burn injuries to minors and children can be serious and may require a doctor’s supervision.

According to the University of Missouri, almost 2 million people are treated annually for burns in the US. Of these, about 112 000 cases are scald burns caused by hot water. Although many people associate burn injuries with fires, the National Safety Council reports that the US has the highest rate of burns in the industrialized world, and a good portion of those burns are caused by something as simple as hot water.

According to Safe Kids Coalition, about 37,000 of scald burn victims are 14 years of age or under, and about 18,000 scald victims are 5 or under. Reports note that when it comes to scald injuries to minors and children, the culprit is often as simple as hot baths. The University of Missouri reports that about half of childhood scald injuries occur because parents place their children in bath water that is too hot. In some cases, though, scalding occurs because children turn on the faucet or because they fall into water that is too hot. Some scalding are the result of child abuse.

Since children have thinner skin, they can burn faster. In fact, burns are the second leading cause of death for children between the ages of 0 and 5, according to some reports. Each day, across the country, 300 children are admitted to emergency rooms for scalds and burn injuries caused by hot water. Each year, 3000 of these patients require hospitalization for their injuries.

Now that it is summer in Florida, late summer parties and the coming long weekends will inevitably mean fireworks. Fireworks have a fascinating history that goes back to ancient China, and Pyrotechnics can mean a beautiful show, but bright sparks all to often mean burn injuries and other serious personal injuries during the summer months.

In 2003 alone, an estimated 9 300 Americans were treated in hospitals for burns and other injuries resulting from fireworks. Four people succumbed to their injuries. Of those injured by fireworks each year, the majority are children. Boys between the ages of 5 and 9 are most likely to be injured and in fact about 45% of all fireworks-related injuries happen to children 14 years of age or younger.

More than half of all fireworks-related injuries are burns, although injuries to the hands, eyes, and face are also common. Lacerations and contusions are quite common with fireworks-related injuries. Plus, fireworks also contribute to residential fires and property damage as well.

Now that summer has arrived in Florida, more barbequing and more time spent at home, combined with hot, dry conditions can create the ideal environment for home fires. Those who are interested in camping and spending time outdoors, too, must obviously worry about fires in forests and other natural environments.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), deaths caused by fires and burns are the fifth most common cause of accidental deaths in the country. In fact, studies have shown that in 2005, across the country, someone died in a fire about every 143 minutes, on average, and someone suffered a personal injury from fire, on average, every 29 minutes.

In 2005 alone, fire departments rushed to 396 000 home fires across the country. Many of these fires were in residential homes and those who succumbed to injuries usually perished from toxic gases or smoke inhalation. In most residential fires, cooking caused the flames. In 2005, home fires resulted in almost $7 billion in property damage. The cost of fatal fire and burn injuries that same year was about $3 billion.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are a number of common products that cause burn injuries each year. Unfortunately, many people are simply not aware of the dangers. The Florida attorneys at The Law Offices of Flaxman & Lopez want everyone to be aware of these common hazards:

*Mattresses and Bedding. About 20,800 fires start in bedding and mattresses annually. Current federal guidelines require that bedding products resist ignition from a smoldering fire caused by a cigarette. Tests on mattresses have shown that mattresses can be engulfed in deadly flames in only three minutes. Many manufacturers make use of Polyurethane foam in mattresses, as the product meets current flammability standards. However, the material is made from hazardous chemicals that can actually make a traditional mattress highly combustible. Worse, the foam produces toxic cyanide gas when lit. This gas is disabling and deadly, meaning it can actually inhibit a victim’s ability to flee a fire.

*Clothing. About 300 emergency room visits each year are attributable to burn injuries caused by children’s sleepwear. The Flammable Fabrics Act, 15 U.S.C. 1191-1204 outlines a apparel test, SC 191-53, which requires that test samples of adult clothing take longer than one second to ignite. The test requires that after ignition the flame move along 5.5″ at a rate greater than 4 seconds. Many experts have criticized the current regulations and vague and dangerous, since the test can allow clothing which is as flammable as paper to pass the test. The test for children’s sleepwear, 16 CFR 1615-1616, is stricter, thanks in part to campaigning by the CPSC for tougher regulations. Even when it comes to children’s sleepwear, however, the tests are not always stringent as the manufacturers regulate themselves.

*Heaters and Fireplaces. A government Safety Alert from the CPSC has been issued about the possible hazard of secondary heaters. About 10,900 fires were caused in a recent year by heaters. The same year, 15,500 fires and 40 deaths were caused by fireplaces or chimneys. Heaters caused 100 carbon monoxide deaths the same year.

Although many people assume that their homes are safe from fire, these facts show that they are in fact not safe at all. Florida burn injuries occur each year due to clothing, heaters, and bedding products. Florida residents may wish to check these items in their homes to ensure that these products are in good shape and are recent. Consumers may wish to check to make sure that the products they are using in their home have not been recalled due to defect. Extra caution – and of course, good working fire alarms in the home – are vital in preventing tragedy.

If you or a loved one have already suffered a burn injury due to a product defect or due to an accident, it is important to contact qualified Florida attorneys at once. Many of the treatments and procedures required to rebuild the skin after a burn injury may not be covered by traditional medical insurance. Qualified Florida lawyers can ensure that you get the medical treatment you need.

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