Although most people know the old adage that you should “stop, drop, and roll” in the event of a fire, that maneuver alone isn’t always enough to prevent severe burn injuries. Whether you were burned in your own home or while visiting someone else’s property, burn injuries may require extensive medical treatment and extremely specialized care. In cases where another party is directly responsible for your burns, they could also be liable for your medical costs.
At Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, we help burn victims find a measure of peace after their traumatizing injuries, by seeking full and fair compensation under the law. From ongoing therapy to hospitalization fees to reconstructive surgery, treating your burn may be a daunting task, but it’s not an impossible one.
HOW DO I TREAT A SEVERE BURN INJURY?
We’ve all experienced small burns, like those from curling irons or barbecues. These tend to be minor and localized to a specific area, so the recommended first aid treatment usually just involves running it under cool water and preventing infection with topical antiseptics like Neosporin.
Severe burns, however, are another matter entirely. Any burn that looks and feels more serious than a sunburn can potentially be classified as a 2nd-degree burn, which are treated in the same manner as wounds and blisters. By the time a burn is classified as 4th degree, you could be looking at long-term bone, muscle, and nerve damage, which can only be treated by highly-trained specialists.
Here are a few things to keep in mind immediately after sustaining a severe burn:
- Do not use cold water or ice, as water can introduce infection in serious burn wounds.
- Do not remove clothing without the help of a skilled medical practitioner.
- Do not use ointments or butter, as these too can cause infection.
- If comfortable, cover the wound with a sterile, clean cloth or bandage.
COMMON POST-BURN TREATMENTS
Once you’ve experienced a severe burn, it’s critical that you keep a level head, and seek out the advice of a trained medical professional. Depending on the severity and degree of your burn, you may have difficulty moving or even breathing, and need assistance to receive the proper emergency medical care. Even if you can still move around easily, you should consider visiting an ER or urgent care center if your hands, feet, or face were burned, or if the burn wound is longer than 3 inches.
Some common medical treatments for severe burn victims may include:
- Skin grafting
- Exposure therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
- Blister and scar removal
- Treatment for sepsis and tetanus
- Long-term assisted care
SEEKING COMPENSATION FOR BURN VICTIMS
At Hare Wynn, we care deeply about our clients and can fight to get the compensation you need to cover your burn treatments. From lifelong assisted care to painful surgeries and therapies, burn victims face a uniquely long road to recovery, and they shouldn’t have to deal with it alone.
When you suspect that a negligent party was responsible for your burn wounds, contact our skilled legal team immediately. We can review the details of your case, and apply more than 130 years of personal injury and medical malpractice experience to seek the compensation to which you’re entitled.
Call 800-568-5330 today for a free consultation! Our Kentucky and Alabama burn injury lawyers can serve clients nationwide.
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