With burn injuries, the deeper the burn, the more severe the damage to the skin and internal tissue. Typically, the severity of burn injuries are labeled in "degrees", e.g., first degree burn, second degree burn, third degree burn, etc. The higher the degree, the more severe the burn, with third and fourth degree burns actually burning all layers of skin and in some cases burning the muscle and even the bone.
Some common causes of burn injury include the following:
- Construction accidents, such as exposure to hot tar
- Explosions, such as factory explosions or chemical explosions
- Auto accidents, such as cars catching fire, exploding, or contact with hot car parts such as muffles or engines
- Defective products, such as a deep fryer being pulled over by an infant who is doused in hot oil
- Surgical fires, such as surgical drapes catching fire, fires from electrical cautery devices and electro-surgical units