Chemical burn injuries can be very painful and lead to long term health effects. They can occur in a number of ways and the severity of the burn can range from mild to severe. A few ways these chemical burns could happen could be from unsafe work conditions, or misuse of a product or possibly even a product defect. If you suffered a chemical burn that results in a burn injury lawsuit, contact a burn injury lawyer today.
Types of Burns
Burns are categories by being either first, second, third, or fourth degree burns. This refers to the first, second and third layers of the skin. A third-degree burn is also know as a “full thickness” burn and it is a burn that has destroyed the epidermis and dermis. A fourth-degree burn destroys the subcutis as well, which will cause damage to the tendons, muscles and possibly even the bones.
Common Cause of Chemical Burns
One of the main causes of chemical burns comes from the misuse of a product, some of the most common workplace and household products that cause chemical burns include but are not limited to:
- car battery acid
- bleach
- ammonia
- swimming pool cleaners
- toilet and drain cleaners
- oven cleaners
- fertilizers
- metal cleaners
- concrete mix
- paint thinners
Anyone who owns chemicals for any reason must make sure they are stored and labeled properly for safety. If you believe you did not misuse a product and it was a defect of that product that caused a chemical burn, reach out to a burn injury lawyer today so they can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Symptoms of a Chemical Burn
The symptoms for chemical burns vary depending on a multitude of factors, symptoms of a chemical burn depend on:
- when the skin was in contact with the chemical
- whether the chemical was inhaled, swallowed, or touched
- whether there were open cuts during contact
- the contact location on the body
- the amount and strength of the chemical
- whether the chemical was gas, liquid, or solid
Also, the type of chemical that caused the burn will have an effect on what types of symptoms will be shown. That is because every chemical reacts differently when it comes into contact with a person skin, eyes or even inside the body. Some general and common symptoms that will be present if a chemical comes into contact with a person’s skin and eyes are:
- skin that appears black or dead
- irritation, redness, or burning in the area that was affected
- numbness and pain in affected areas
- vision change or loss if the chemical comes in contact with the eyes
If someone inhaled a chemical or possibly even swallowed it, some of the symptoms may be:
- irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrest
- low blood pressure
- shortness of breath
- headache
- coughing
- dizziness
- seizures
- muscle twitching
If you came into contact with a chemical and have any of these symptoms, contact a healthcare professional today. And if the reason you came into contact with these chemical and suffered a chemical burn due to someone else’s negligence, contact a burn injury lawyer today.
Who is at Risk for a Chemical Burn?
Most times, the people with the highest risk of suffering a chemical burn are ones who cannot handle the chemicals properly. These could be infants, young children or even older adults. Also, people who work in industries where the possibility of exposure of chemicals to skin are high and common. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that more than 13 million Americans perform work in industries that have the chance their skin or eyes will be exposed to chemicals. A few of these industries include but are not limited to:
- agriculture
- manufacturing
- transportation
- utilities
- healthcare
- construction
When chemicals are present in the workplace, it is usually carelessness that lead to the burn. But if your company did not provide the proper safety training, protocols or protective equipment and you suffered a chemical burn, reach out to a burn injury lawyer to see how they can help you.
With that said, after you have received the proper medical attention for your chemical burn, take a minute to think if it could have been caused by someone else’s negligence. Do not just jump to conclusions and assume it was your fault that you suffered a chemical burn injuries. Take into account if you were burned in a space where you don’t have control of the safety protocols and whether or not they were or were not taken. Or if your burn could have been prevented if someone would have taken more safety precautions or behaved more responsibly. Such as if someone could have designed a product differently to ensure consumer safety, if you think you might have been a victim of a chemical burn due to someone else’s negligence, contact a burn injury lawyer today.
