BURN
INJURY & TRAUMA/SHOCK
A
burn is any injury to tissues of the body caused by heat, electricity,
chemicals or radiation. Burn injuries are painful and can leave permanent
physical and psychological scars. According to the Journal of Burn
Care and Rehabilitation, in the early nineties there were over 2.4
million reported burn injuries per year in the United States. Of these
incidents, over a million resulted in substantial injury.
Serious
burns are complex injuries. In addition to the burn injury itself,
a number of other functions may be affected. Burn injuries can affect
muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels. The respiratory system
can be damaged, with possible airway obstruction, respiratory failure
and respiratory arrest. Since burns injure the skin, they impair the
body's normal fluid/electrolyte balance, body temperature, body thermal
regulation, joint function, manual dexterity, and physical appearance.
In addition to the physical damage caused by burns, patients also
may suffer emotional and psychological problems that begin at the
emergency scene and could last a long time.
Trauma
& Shock
Trauma is defined as an injury caused by a physical force; examples
include the consequences of motor vehicle accidents, falls, drowning,
gunshots, fires and burns, and stabbing or other physical assault.
According
to the American Trauma Society, 100,000 Americans of all ages die
from trauma each year, and trauma kills more people between the ages
of 1 and 44 than any other disease or illness. According to the National
Center for Health Statistics, trauma (including unintentional injuries
and homicides) causes:
-
43
percent of all deaths from ages 1-4
-
48
percent of all deaths from ages 5-14
-
62
percent of all deaths from ages 15-24
Shock
is defined as "circulatory collapse," when the arterial
blood pressure is too low to maintain an adequate supply of blood
to the body's tissues.
Shock
is characterized by cold and sweaty skin, weak and rapid pulse, irregular
breathing, dry mouth, dilated pupils, and reduced flow of urine. Shock
can be caused by internal or external bleeding (hypovolemic shock),
dehydration, burns, or severe vomiting and/or diarrhea--all of which
involve the loss of large amounts of bodily fluids.
Burn
Injuries & Trauma / Shock
Causes of Burn Injury
Methods of Burn Injury
Degrees of Burn Injury
How to Determine Severity of a Burn
The Burn Injury Lawyers Network
No Fee Until Recovery
Contact Us
Home | About Burn Injuries | Burn Injury Care
Types of Burn Injuries | Burn Injury Resources
Find A Lawyer | Legal Info | News | Site Map
