What are the dangers associated with smoke inhalation?

On Behalf of | Sep 25, 2020 | Burn Injuries

When many individuals think about fires, they think about visible injuries, including scarring. They don’t often think about the internal harm that a blaze can cause. Smoke inhalation can be just as deadly to you as an external burn injury can be, however.

Smoke is a mixture of gases with various liquid particles and airborne solids. House fires cause hundreds of toxic chemicals to release into the air. Factors that impact this release’s intensity include the fire’s temperature, the abundance of oxygen in the air and the burning materials present.

Many people are lucky enough to survive a fire die shortly after arriving in the hospital from smoke inhalation. They do so because it leaves them with toxic poisoning, lung irritations or thermal damage. Humans usually use the oxygen they breathe in from the air around them and convert it into carbon dioxide. They suffocate if they can’t go through this process. Pulmonary inflammation caused by smoke inhalation from a fire can cause a patient to asphyxiate or experience a smothering sensation.

Individuals who suffer minor smoke inhalation may experience temporary throat, eye and nose irritations that result in coughing and other respiratory side effects. A person with more prolonged exposure to smoke may experience visual acuity problems, disorientation and even pass out. It’s not uncommon for fire victims to lose track of where they are as they’re trying to escape their burning home. They may become unconscious, something that may quickly lead to their death.

Fire victims who are lucky enough to survive a fire are likely to end up with burns and long-term effects of smoke inhalation. It’s not uncommon for these individuals to experience long-term nervous or respiratory system damage that requires a lifetime of dedicated care. You owe it to yourself to consult with a burn injuries attorney if this is the predicament you are facing. Your Augusta lawyer can advise you how Georgia law may allow you to recover compensation if someone else’s negligence resulted in your fire-related health concerns in your case.