After a car or truck crash, your body could struggle with various injuries, including burns. Burns have different classifications based on their severity.
Understanding these degrees can help you grasp the extent of the damage and the necessary medical attention.
First-degree
The least severe of all burns, first-degree burns affect only the outer layer of your skin, known as the epidermis. They typically manifest as redness, pain and mild swelling.
There were 212,500 vehicle fires in America in 2018, and that number continues to grow to this day. Coming into contact with hot surfaces is a common problem during a vehicle fire. There are certain specific areas in a vehicle that can give you first-degree burns, like the steering wheel, engine or exhaust.
Second-degree
Second-degree burns are more severe than first-degree burns and can result from prolonged contact with hot surfaces or flames. These burns penetrate beyond the epidermis and into the dermis layer beneath, causing blisters, severe pain and redness.
It is important to seek immediate medical attention if you have second-degree burns as they can become infected if not treated properly.
Third-degree
The most severe type of burns, third-degree burns, can occur in car or truck crashes involving fires or explosions. These burns damage all layers of the skin and may even extend to the underlying tissues. They often appear charred, white or black and can be painless due to nerve damage. Treating third-degree burns necessitates extensive medical care, including skin grafts and rehabilitation.
Understanding more about the variety of health scares and worries you may face after a certain degree of burns can help you make decisions that prevent further pain. Regardless of any injuries you experience after an accident, it is important to be proactive when dealing with burns.
