A burn is an injury to the skin or underlying tissues due to direct heat. Burns can be caused by fire, chemicals, electricity, radiation, or steam. The American Burn Association estimates that about one million people are treated for burns each year, and that about 50,000 of those patients will require an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Since there are several different types of burns and different ways to treat them, it’s important to know the difference between them so you can seek appropriate treatment quickly. The best treatment for each burn type will depend on several factors such as the size and depth of the burn, the location of the burn, and the health of the patient. Depending on the severity of the burn, someone may need urgent care or be admitted to the ICU. If a burn is serious enough, it could lead to death if not treated quickly and properly. Depending on the type of burn and the circumstances surrounding it, each patient may receive any of the following treatments:

Chemical Burns

Chemical burns are caused by exposure to chemicals. The chemicals could be household cleaning products, pesticides, fertilizers, hair straighteners, or even medication.Chemical burns can be very deep — sometimes even reaching the bones. The severity of the burn depends on how much of the chemical got into the body, how long it was left in contact with the skin, and how much of it was absorbed by the skin. The American Burn Association recommends keeping poisonous chemicals out of reach of children and in a locked cabinet.

Thermal Burns

Thermal burns are caused by direct exposure to extreme heat. They can also be caused by hot liquids, such as soup or coffee.Thermal burns can result in blisters, swelling, and discoloration to the skin. The American Burn Association recommends keeping a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket within arm’s reach in every room, including kitchens, to keep children safe from burns.

Electrical Burns

These are the most common type of burns in children. Electrical burns are usually caused when a child puts a toy or other electrical object in their mouth. Electrical burns can happen accidentally or maliciously. They can involve the entire body or just one area. Electrical burns can be extremely painful and can affect the nervous system. The American Burn Association recommends keeping electrical objects away from young children and not letting them touch electrical sockets. Electrical injuries can be very serious and even fatal.

Contact Burns

Contact burns are usually caused by hot liquids, such as soup or coffee, that have touched the skin and then been discarded. They can also be caused by chemicals or steam that have been accidentally brought in contact with the skin.Contact burns can happen anywhere on the body, but are usually limited to the hands, face, and neck. The American Burn Association recommends keeping hot liquids out of reach of children and in a locked cabinet. It also recommends wearing protective gloves when handling hot liquids.

Exposure Burns

Exposure burns are usually caused by chemicals in the air that have dripped onto the skin. This type of burn can be very serious, even life-threatening.Exposure burns usually occur indoors, but can also happen outdoors. The American Burn Association recommends keeping chemicals, such as paint, glue, cleaning products, or gasoline, out of reach of children and in a locked cabinet. They also recommend wearing protective gloves when handling chemicals and closing windows and doors to rooms where these products are being used.

Summary

Burns are injuries to the skin or underlying tissues due to direct heat. There are several types of burns and several ways to treat them. The best treatment for each burn type will depend on several factors such as the size and depth of the burn, the location of the burn, and the health of the patient.