If you have been burned in a serious accident then living with this traumatic experience could leave you physically and emotionally scarred for life. Burns and explosions can happen anywhere and can affect people of all ages. Chemical burns, electrical burns, vehicle explosions and propane gas explosions are only a few of the different burns and explosions our team of qualified accident lawyers handles.

Find out your legal rights when faced with any burn or explosion injury today by speaking to TSR Injury Law Firm as soon as possible.

Degrees of Burns

There are three different degrees or levels of severity in burns. It can hard to know where your injury fits in by just looking at it which is why immediate medical attention is required for all three.

First Degree Burns

Superficial burns that affect the top layer of the skin. In most instances first degree burns will heal on their own but they can sometimes scar and cause emotional trauma, especially after an explosion. These burns can be caused by a number of instances including chemical exposure, fire and electric shocks.

In a first degree burn, the skin will look red and may be tender to the touch. It may also be moist, somewhat swollen, and itchy. These burns do not blister or leave a scar.

You may treat first degree burns at home. Hold the burn under running, cold water for 10 minutes. Do not use ice. This can further damage the skin. You may put sterile gauze on the burn, but do not use adhesive bandages. The gauze needs to be loose to allow air flow. Do not use butter or oils. They will intensify the heat and deepen the burn. An anti-inflammatory, over the counter medication will help with pain and inflammation.

Second Degree Burns

Are more severe than first degree burns, these burns will burn through several layers of skin. Second degree burns will blister and leave scarring. Medical treatment is required and often surgery as well.

A second degree burn is sometimes called a partial thickness burn. A second degree burn penetrates the epidermis and sometimes reaches the dermis. There is redness, blistering, and extensive pain. The pain is heightened due to the fact that the nerves are damaged, not destroyed. In a second degree burn, there can be damage to sweat glands and hair follicles, as well as severe swelling.

Most second degree burns require medical attention and will heal in 10-21 days. Second degree burns do leave a change in skin color and pigmentation. If the second degree burn is ivory or whitish in color, it will require a process known as debridement (scrubbing) to avoid any type of infection. Debridement will be followed up with skin grafting treatment.

Third Degree Burns

These are the most serious types of burns that destroy all layers of the skin. They can also impact the muscle, bone, nerve and fat of your body. Third degree burns will result in scarring and possible disfigurement among several other complications.

A third degree burn is the most severe of the burn injury classifications. It is known as a full-thickness burn. With a third degree burn, there is swelling and blistering, caused by the loss of fluid from damaged blood vessels. Severe fluid loss can cause shock. Blood transfusions may be needed. When the burn covers more than 20% of the body, fluid resuscitation is done by intravenous drip. Fluid resuscitation is required during the first 24 hours.

In the second 24 hours, the burn wounds will be cleaned, the dead skin will be removed by a process called debridement (scrubbing), and the dressing will be changed at regular intervals. All of the dead skin needs to be removed to minimize the chance of infection. The debridement process will continue until they get down to an area that starts bleeding.

Once the dead skin is completely cleaned from the wound, new skin may start to form in some areas and skin grafting treatment will begin where needed. Skin will be removed from an undamaged part of the body. The grafts may be put through a machine to expand the piece of skin. When this is done it leaves a permanent mesh design in the grafted skin.

Any grafted skin or skin that grows over the wound will be thinner than normal skin. That is because it is only epidermis cells. The dermis does not regenerate. The thinner skin will continue to cause complications and inconveniences for life.

• Dryness will be a problem, due to the permanent damage to oil glands.
• The thinner skin will be prone to eczema because if exposed to any irritating agent, it will break down and become scaly.
• The skin is hot and cold intolerant. Any extreme temperature is uncomfortable for the thin skin, sometimes even painful.
• The burned area is prone to wrinkles. It is parchment thin, dry, and lacks the elasticity of the dermis layer.

Third Degree Burn Injury Complications

Here are some of the complications following a third degree burn:

• After a major burn injury, heart rate and blood pressure may increase. This is due to the chemical reaction in the tissue and the massive fluid shift in the body. They should return to normal after 24 hours.
• Infection is another major complication with a burn injury. With major sections of skin missing, the integrity of the immune system is broken down.
• Burn wounds are susceptible to tetanus. A booster shot is required if the victim has not had a tetanus shot in the last 5 years.
• When burns completely encompass an extremity, circulation may be compromised. The limb(s) should be elevated to prevent swelling.
• In a severe third degree burn, the damaged muscles and red blood cells can release myoglobin and hemoglobin that can lead to kidney failure. This is also a side effect if fluid resuscitation has not been achieved.

Long-Term Prognosis

There are many continuing issues with burned skin.

• Dryness will always be a problem because the oil glands were damaged.
• Some people have issues with sweating.
• Burn victims are prone to eczema, because the skin is thinner and breaks down easier.
• The burned area is prone to wrinkles at an earlier age.
• The burn victim may have a permanent mesh pattern to the burned area if skin grafting was used.

A burn victim suffers more than visible injuries — there are psychological and emotional issues to work through. It is not unusual for a burn victim to have nightmares, cold sweats, low self-esteem, and depression. Their world has been permanently changed and the adjustment can be very difficult.

Common Causes of Burns and Explosions

We offer our assistance to victims of burn injuries in the event of:

• Unsafe building practices and building code violations
• Unsafe work environments(612) TSR-TIME
• Careless and recklessness
• Defective products
• Unsafe handling of explosives
• Manufacturing defects
• Unsafe use of gas or other flammable liquids

Burns and explosions can happen in an instant and it can often be hard to remember what exactly happen. You may be experienced post traumatic stress disorder that can impact you for the rest of your life.

At TSR Injury Law firm we will get to the bottom of what exactly happened and find out who is responsible. Whether it is the property owner’s fault, a product manufacturer error or a workplace related accident, we can help you piece the puzzles back together so you can move on easier.

Need Legal Help? Contact Us Today

Seeking medical attention at the first site of a burn or explosion is necessary, even if you think it is not really at all that. File a report at work if it happened at the workplace and speak to a Minnesota burn lawyer as soon as you can. Liability insurance covers instances of burns but often this is not enough.

At TSR Injury Law we can help you determine what you are entitled to and make sure you get everything you deserve for your emotional and physical pain. Contact TSR Injury Law Firm today to learn more about your options at (612) TSR TIME.