If you have ever burned yourself, you’ve likely had someone tell you to run the affected part under cold water. Hence, people often think about burns as an easily treatable surface injury. The reality is that while most burns are minor, some are much more serious.
Medical professionals classify burns on a scale of one to six. First-degree burns are the least serious of all. The are superficial injuries with no blistering. These are the ones that generally need nothing more than cold water.
Some burns can be life-threatening
Things become really serious once you reach fourth-degree burns and above. These can cause permanent damage and pose a risk to life. The affected area of the body will appear white and charred with a fourth-degree burn, and you may even be able to see through to the bone. Fifth and sixth-degree burns will look worse, still.
Such burns could occur in many ways. For example, through chemical spills, an explosion, a fire in a vehicle crash, tripping into a campfire, falling onto a hot iron or falling against a hot stove while working in a restaurant. Immediate hospitalization will be crucial.
If you have these, you likely won’t feel any pain, but that’s not a good thing. It means the nerves that transmit pain have been destroyed in the area of the burn, and they are not going to come back.
Aside from nerve damage and lifelong disfigurement, you will be at a high risk of infection. Organs can also become damaged in more severe cases, and amputations may be necessary. The injuries might not even be survivable.
If you suffer burns due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to claim compensation to help you deal with the financial impacts and other damages. Getting experienced legal guidance as soon as possible can help you protect your right to compensation.