Burns can happen from many different accidents, including house fires, car accidents, chemical spills, defective products, and more. There are four varying levels of severity when it comes to burns:
First Degree Burns are the mildest type of burns a person can sustain. They only affect the outer layers of your skin and are unlikely to cause permanent damage. They will cause pain at the burn site, along with reddening of the skin, but are unlikely to cause blisters, swelling or any other permanent damage.
Second Degree Burns affect multiple layers of skin, going deeper into the lower layer of skin. They cause pain, redness, blistering and swelling. These burns can leave behind scars but are not likely to cause residual pain or tissue damage.
Third Degree Burns are also called full thickness burns because they go through all of the layers of your skin. They can affect deeper tissue. These burns will often result in white or blackened, charred skin that could feel numb in addition to pain, blistering and swelling.
Fourth Degree Burns are very serious injuries and can affect your muscle, bones and fat. These burns can actually cause death. With these burns, you will not experience any pain where you’ve been burned, as your nerve endings will either be destroyed or badly damaged. Fourth degree burns will require a prolonged hospital stay and immediate medical attention. Often, these victims will require debridement, IV antibiotics and skin grafts.
Depending on the overall injuries sustained in your accident, as well as the severity of your burns, you may go into shock. Symptoms for shock include pale or clammy skin, a drop-in alertness, bluish lips and fingernails, and overall weakness. More serious burns can also cause hypothermia, hypovolemia, breathing issues, bone and joint problems, tetanus, sepsis, and death.