As the American Burn Association set out to commemorate National Burn Awareness Week in February, they released a report acknowledging that burn injuries are one of the top causes of unintendend bodily harm or death in this country. They also reported that the odds of an American dying from burns or fire-related injuries is close to 1 in 1,500. Firefighters aren’t the only ones at risk for such injuries either.
Data compiled by the organization also showed that during the four years leading up to 2015, nearly 500,000 individuals were seen in hospitals in this country for burn injuries.
In 2016, 3,390 average Americans died in fires. While the large majority, or 2,800 of those, resulted from home fires, just over 350 happened when their cars were set ablaze. Another 235 of these deaths occurred somewhere else or outdoors. The reasons for the remaining fires was inconclusive.
Their data also shows that some of the most common causes of burns include scald injuries from touching a hot liquid or object, chemical burns, coming in contact with flames or fire and electric shock or exposure.
Women, at 32 percent, are two times less likely to be burned than men. A survey of U.S. hospitals revealed that 52 percent of their burn victims are males.
Data also shows that 73 percent of burn victims reported being injured at home. Eight percent were hurt at work.
Older and disabled adults and minor children are the most vulnerable to being injured in a fire. American Burn Association data shows that nearly a quarter of all burn injury victims are the under the age of 15. For many who belong to these age groups, fire-related injuries are listed among the top 10 causes of death.
On a positive note, the organization’s data shows that as many as 96.7 percent of those who survive long enough to be transported and treated at one of the United States’ many burn centers will ultimately survive.
For those who are lucky enough to live to tell the story of how they survived a fire, they’re often left with both physical and emotional scars of what they went though. Caring for these wounds can be costly. You’ll want to have an Augusta burn injuries attorney with litigation experience on your side to help you get the compensation you need to take care of yourself.