Below, our compassionate Los Angeles burn injury attorney, Michael Ehline, delves into hot liquid burns and scalds. In the end, he will include some bonus information to assist you in finding the best help for scald burns in L.A.

A Burn Caused by Liquid, like Coffee, Tea, Steam, or other Drink, is a Scald Burn

Many burns directly result from dry heat, such as a fire, but a burn from hot beverages, for example, is commonly referred to as a scald. According to the American Burn Association, more than half a million people in the country suffer from scalding injuries from hot liquids. Besides the consumption of hot liquids, workers near hot liquids at their workplaces (including factories, construction sites, hot water in kitchens, and more) are at a higher risk of severe burns and scalds due to inadequate safety gear and failure to stay at a safe distance from back burners, hot water, steam from cooking, etc.

Very Hot Beverages and Liquids Can Cause Severe Burns and Scalds

If you received scald burn injuries from hot liquids or from drinking hot beverages, you should seek the help of our hot liquid burn lawyers to help you handle the financial compensation process.

Hot Drinks and Esophageal Cancer: The Truth

Since the 1930s, there has been a theory that suggests scorching beverages burn the inner linings of the esophagus. Constant burning results in cell regeneration. Still, during this process, normal cells can turn into cancerous cells, thus leading to esophageal cancer (very hot beverages are the primary culprit).

Earlier studies conducted on animals suggested that hot liquids could damage the cells. However, the study results cannot apply to humans since the hot liquids administered to animals were at extremely high temperatures, something people may not consider.

In 2016, the World Health Organization conducted a study where they would monitor the results of the consumption of hot liquids by people in countries across Asia, Africa, and more. China also conducted a study where they tried to find out the link between hot drinks and esophageal cancer. These studies only showed an increased risk of esophageal cancer in subjects who were either alcoholics or smokers.

Is There a Link?

Today, no study suggests a direct link between hot drinks and esophageal cancer among healthy people. However, those who drink alcohol or smoke, or those with common risk factors for cancer such as obesity, are definitely at an increased risk of esophageal cancer. Now that we’ve established that hot drinks may or may not cause cancer directly let’s explore the reality that hot beverages tend to cause severe burns to your skin.

Hot Beverages Can Burn Your Skin

A hot drink can take only five seconds or less to burn your skin if it is 140 °F or more. Hot beverages, such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, are usually served between 160 and 180 °F, enough to burn your throat, tongue, and mouth.

Below the skin layer are nerves that send signals to the brain to register pain. A skin burn from hot liquids requires immediate medical attention as it can damage the tissues, nerves, and even the muscles. Some hot liquid victims risk contracting bacterial infections from these burns since they can open the skin.

Injuries may vary in severity depending on the temperature of very hot beverages and the duration of exposure. Understanding how liquids can cause scald burns is essential so the victim can immediately take the necessary steps to protect themselves.

Degree of Burns

There are three types of burns, and they are:

• First-degree burns
• Second-degree burns
• Third-degree burns and scalds.

First-Degree Burns

A superficial burn, or first-degree burn, is a minor burn that affects the epidermis or the skin’s first layer. This type of burn occurs when the hot liquid lightly splashes on the skin, and the contact between the skin and the hot liquid is brief. This type of burn usually happens when you’re boiling liquids or in an environment with hot liquids, such as a factory.

Some symptoms of a first-degree burn to help you identify your burn include immediate pain, change in skin color (pinkish or red), peeling as the healing process starts, and dehydrated skin.

Second-Degree Burns

Also known as a partial-thickness burn, a second-degree burn is a serious burn injury that affects the epidermis and slowly damages the dermis’s second layer. These burns occur when a boiling liquid remains on the skin for a considerable period.

If you’re not sure whether you have a first-degree burn or a second-degree burn, some of the symptoms of a second-degree burn that can help you diagnose your injury include pain over a few weeks, wet skin, blisters, and a change in skin color (red, pink, or white under the blister).

Depending on which body part the burn is on, it may take a couple of weeks to heal. Typically, a second-degree burn heals in under three weeks, but the treatment may require a skin graft. These types of burns can leave unwanted scars that may remain for several years.

Third-degree Burns

Third-degree burns, also known as full-thickness burns, can be life-threatening and lead to complications such as infections. This type of burn is the most dangerous as it ultimately damages all the skin layers. Prolonged exposure to boiling or hot liquids can deliver nasty third-degree burns, which can be fatal without immediate medical care.

Symptoms of a third-degree burn include no or very little pain, fever, weakness, completely damaged skin, change in skin color, and greyish or blackish skin.

Third-degree burns can cause infections requiring hospitalization, antibiotics, and, in some cases, even surgeries.

Relationship Between Temperatures and Time

The severity of the injuries depends on the liquid’s temperature and the time the skin remains exposed to it.

Here is some information to help guide you on the relationship between the two variables that can lead to serious burns:

• 98 °F – Optimum temperature for bathing
• 118 °F – 5 minutes
• 124 °F – 3 minutes
• 140 °F – 5 seconds
• 155 °F – 1 second.

High-Risk Groups: Who Is More at Risk of Scalding?

Besides workers working in environments that can cause thermal injury, certain groups of people risk burning themselves more than others.

Young Children

Due to their thinner skin, small children are more prone to burn injuries than adults, resulting in much deeper burns. Since a child’s body is much smaller than that of a full-grown adult, the proportion of the body burned is considerable. For example, a cup of hot tea spilled on small children will affect a much larger area than the cup spilled on an adult’s body.

Small children also have fewer perceptions of danger and a lot of curiosity. They do not understand the repercussions of what may happen if they touch hot water, and they certainly do not possess the ability to escape a burning situation.

Older Adults

Older adults are like younger children because they, too, have thinner skin. They may also have medical conditions that may not register pain upon impact, thus causing an injury. Due to their body condition and old age, their bodies do not remove heat from burned tissue as quickly as adults, resulting in more profound and prolonged burns.

Older adults are also at an increased risk of burns as they are more prone to slips and falls. A fall in a bathtub with hot water or a slip while carrying hot drinks can result in serious injuries.

How Should You Treat a Burn or a Scald?

You may want to call emergency services to treat your burn wounds, but they will take a few minutes to reach your location. It is essential to administer immediate care to subdue the burn and stop it from spreading broader and more profoundly.

Here are some tips you should follow to treat your burns until the emergency services arrive:

• Remove the heat source and run the burned area under cool water for 20 minutes. A continuous flow of cool water can provide instant relief and stop the burn from spreading. You need to maintain body heat, so do not treat your burns with cold water or ice.
• Remove any cloth from the burned area to ensure enough room for swelling.
• Use a clean cloth to cover your burn, and if possible, keep the burned area above the heart level.

Taking these measures can help prevent further damage from the burn and allow enough time for the paramedics to reach your location and provide medical care. Proper care and precautions are essential to prevent scald injuries.

Here are some ways you can prevent yourself or your loved ones from getting scalding burns:

Preventing Scalding Burn from Hot Liquid

Most people heat liquids or food at too high temperatures, as this is usually done to kill any germs or bacteria that the food or liquid may harbor. When drinking hot beverages, letting them sit for a while to cool can prevent the risk of scalding burns. New moms who warm up the milk for their infant children should allow a few drops to touch their palms before feeding them to check if the milk isn’t too hot.

Besides letting scorching beverages sit to cool and checking your infant’s feed, here are a few other ways you can prevent scalding burns around your home and protect your household:

• Create a safe zone in the house for the children to play in. This “safe zone” could be in the kitchen, where the children can observe from a distance what their parents are doing or in any other part of the home. Ensure all dangerous equipment, like the stove, is away from the safe zone, and don’t bring any hot food or drinks into it.
• When using the microwave, make sure that you’re heating your food at a low temperature. The microwave is on a high heat setting most of the time, resulting in the food heating unevenly. It may seem cold on the outside but scorching hot on the inside.
• While holding hot drinks, be careful by watching your step. It is common for people to trip on something, resulting in the hot drink running over them. If it’s too hot, it will scald their skin. If you’re holding your child in your arms, make sure that you’re not carrying any hot drinks. Young children’s and elderly people’s skin is sensitive to heat, and hot drinks can seriously injure these groups of people more than adults.
• When preparing a bath, mix cold water with hot water since a water heater does not have a numerical temperature setting.
• If you live with small children or older adults, install anti-scald devices across your home to protect them from receiving burns.

Always ensure safety equipment is around the house. For example, in the kitchen, you can purchase pots and pans with lids and handles that remain cool. Or perhaps invest in a glove to protect you from the heat when moving hot pans with hot liquids in them.

Wear Safety Equipment Both at Home and Work When Necessary

Safety gear is essential in the workplace to prevent such burns. Your employer’s responsibility is to ensure a safe and conducive working environment for all workers. If you risk injuries due to inadequate safety equipment, speaking to an attorney about it is essential.

Contact a Personal Injury Burn Attorney If You Suffered from Scald Burns

If you received burn injuries at work, a restaurant, or any other place that was not your fault, contact us at (213) 596-9642 for a free consultation with our legal experts. You may be eligible for compensation.

Ehline Law is Here for You

You can even visit law offices across California for a free case review. Our attorneys will review your burn injury case and provide you with the possible legal options to help you recover compensation.

A constant rise is being recorded in cases including heart attacks and breathing issues. The uptick in these cases is attributed to wildfire incidents. A surge has been recorded in wildfires in recent years, and one of the recent occurrences is the New Mexico wildfire. Exposure to wildfires increases cancer, period. And it’s not just a higher incidence of lung cancer.

Fires and Cancer

Canadian Research Makes Alarming Revelations

It’s not just climate change we’re talking about when we mention the health effects of human carcinogens in wildfire pollutants. Researchers at McGill University from Canada have from Canada recently shared their research data about wildfires and the impact of wildfires on nearby areas. McGill University researchers have discovered that ever since the rise in wildfire incidents, a significant surge has been recorded in the cases of brain cancer and lung cancer from wildfire pollutants even after the fire has stopped burning.

The research has confirmed that people living near a 30-mile radius of the wildfires are more likely to grow symptoms and have a greater incidence of lung cancer and brain tumors. The researchers based their research on 20-year data. The first decade they researched was before the wildfire, and the second decade was post-wildfire.

Their research has established that people with the mentioned radius have 10% more chances of being diagnosed with lung cancer and brain tumors. For the lung cancer cases, the same people have a 5% higher incidence of lung cancer and brain tumors compared to people living outside the particular radius.

Scott Weichenthal Makes His Statement

Scott Weichenthal is an associate professor at McGill University’s health and biostatistics department. Weichenthal reportedly led the research, making alarming discoveries about carcinogenic wildfire pollutants.

Weichenthal revealed that they were getting constant signals of rising brain cancer and lung cancer risks. When they paid close attention and tried finding a similarity, they discovered they were all living near the wildfire occurrences.

Based on their research and tests, they have concluded what has caused this problem. They revealed that carcinogens get released into the air when a wildfire occurs. This is the only logical explanation for the constant rise in cancer cases.

What is Causing These Wildfires?

Shockingly, there is only one natural cause of wildfires; several causes involve humans. These wildfires take place in prairies, grasslands, or forests. In most wildfire cases, the causes were arson, power line sparks, cigarette butts that are still-lit, and unattended campfires.

Wildfires are Occurring in Almost Similar Areas

The McGill University study recorded that wildfires occur at places commonly known for having several wildfire occurrences. This means that most areas with wildfires are highly prone to such disasters.

Therefore, people living near such wildfires risk developing symptoms of lung cancer or brain cancer. Due to the repeated wildfire occurrences in the same places, people in the surrounding areas are being exposed to opens.

Proximity To Forest Fires Could Increase Cancer Risk?

Yes. The presence of carcinogen chemicals in people living near wildfires is much higher than that of people living further away from such areas. In recent years, wildfire occurrences have also picked up the pace. Due to the increased number of wildfire events, pollutants are becoming common in the areas, causing colossal damage to the health of people in such areas.

Over time, the wildfires have grown and continue to burn for days and weeks. In the past, wildfire cases were very few, but now, they are increasing in size and volume. The primary attribute of the constant rise in wildfire cases is global warming.

It has continued impacting the global environment, and the wildfire season has grown larger. He confirmed that he was accompanied by his colleagues and one of the Ph.D. students, Jill Korsiak. Jill Korsiak reportedly analyzed the data collected from the sources and helped with the research documentation about specific types of lung and cancer risks.

“Many of the pollutants emitted by wildfires are known human carcinogens, suggesting that exposure could increase cancer risk in humans,” according to Ms. Jill Korsiak. The study also goes into brain tumors, as discussed above. Believe it or not, many people could be held legally liable, including product manufacturers who knew or should have known that exposure to wildfires transmutes their products into cancer-causing intoxicants, increasing the risks of developing cancerous diseases.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Residential Fire Cancer Lawyer

What do you think about Jill Korsiak and her conclusions? We believe she is on to something. Did you or your loved one contract lung cancer or brain cancer after exposure to Southern California wildfires? Contact our severe burn injury lawyers today to discover more about cancer, fire, and financial compensation from negligent parties causing the toxic exposure causing lung cancer or brain cancer in your family.

How about some other cancers and brain tumors? The incidence of lung cancer among wildfire victims is appalling.

Our world-class law firm has helped thousands recover financial compensation from at-fault defendants. Learn more during our free case consultation, 24 hours a day, seven days per week, from top-notch personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles County.

Call us today at (213) 596-9642 or use our convenient online contact form for informational purposes and a prompt callback. We are eager to help you get back on your feet after a fire-related accident.

Citations:

• McGill University, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Canada)
• The Lancet Planetary Health

Were you burned due to the carelessness or recklessness of another person? I am Michael Ehline, a Los Angeles burn injury lawyer. I have over 30 years of collective experience, first as a paralegal and now as a member of the California State Bar. I fight to help people like you receive maximum compensation for their burn and scald claims. Today, I explain the worst kinds of brain injuries and how you can recover financial compensation.

Many have to live with pain and suffering, mental anguish, and disfigurement, while in extreme cases, a burn patient may never recover from the skin’s leathery appearance.

Or the burn victim could die from their mortal wounds. (Children can be killed by discharges from electrical outlets or hot objects like a burning stovetop, etc.)

Common Causes of Burns

Many people believe that fire is the only cause of burns. However, there are many different common causes of burns you can receive, and some of these include:

• Thermal burns
• Chemical burns
• Radiation burns
• Electrical burns
• And more.

The different common causes of burns can deliver varying degrees of long-term tissue damage severity, and burn injury treatment must follow accordingly.

Let’s look at the different types and degrees of burns a person can receive and some treatment options. (Cool water on the burned area, or medical care for profound red top layer epidermis infection symptoms or blisters diagnosis?) In most cases, a doctor should never leave the painful, affected area untreated.

Classification of Burns

Different types and degrees of burns constitute the severity of it and the damages a person can receive.

First-degree Burns

These types of burns affect the outer layer of the skin and are also referred to as superficial burns. They cause minor injuries to the burn victim, such as redness and swelling. Severe first-degree burns also affect the outer layer of skin, resulting in swelling and a bit of blistering; however, these types can easily heal at home without the need for immediate medical attention.

When you get a first-degree burn, remove the article of clothing and run the affected skin under cool tap water for 20 minutes to finish the burning sensation.

Second-degree Burns

A person’s outer layer of skin gets burned with second-degree burns, and the inner is called the dermis. Second-degree burns are also referred to as superficial partial burns. They are more painful than first-degree burns since they penetrate the nerve endings responsible for registering pain.

Second-degree burns require medical attention for pain management if the swelling increases, but these types of burns do not come with scarring unless they are deep, partial-thickness burns.

Third-degree Burns

Ultimately damaging the nerve endings, you won’t feel any pain with third-degree burns, but the skin does turn color to black, brown, or yellow. The burn goes deeper than second-degree burns, destroying the two layers of the skin, and these types of burns are severe, requiring immediate medical attention and, in severe cases, a transfer to the burn center. You will also need skin grafting surgery if your skin has severe burns.

Due to advanced medicine, survivability has increased for burn patients over the years. However, there are still risks of complications and death. If the burn victim manages to survive, the psychological trauma that follows can cause anxiety and depression, requiring therapy.

Fourth-degree Burns

These are the most dangerous and life-threatening burns a person can receive since the burn travels to the fat, muscles, and bones while destroying tendons and more. The skin turns leathery and looks charred, and the healing process is extremely slow for this lousy burn. Generally, victims at this stage can give up mentally and lose the will to fight and live another day.

If you’re unsure about your health condition after getting burned, visit the local doctor. The doctor can provide medical advice on the burn and guide you accordingly.

Burn injury prevention can be improved by installing smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher with fire retardant spray chemicals in your home and place of work. Staying out of the sun and heat can also ease swollen lungs and decrease skin cancer, one of the most common causes of this disease.

Contact Ehline Law, Today

If you got a nasty burn that was not your fault, contact us at (213) 596-9642 and get a free consultation with our burn injury attorneys today. We will help compile all medically reviewed reports, determine your claims, and get the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

Citations

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P01737

https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/types-degrees-burns

Causes of Burn Injuries

There are many different causes of burn injuries. Still, the most common causes mentioned by the American Burn Association are electrical burns, chemical burns, fire burns, and scalding injuries from hot liquids.

Types of Burns

Depending on the severity of the burn, there are four different types of burn injuries:

• First-degree burn: This affects the skin’s outer layer, resulting in minor pain and inflammation. Victims can treat such burns at home without needing emergency medical attention.
• Second-degree burns: These turns penetrate the outer skin layer and enter the dermis. Such burns leave the skin blistering and can take more than two weeks to heal, while skin graft surgery might be necessary for burn scars with significant burn injuries.
• Third-degree burns: These are highly severe injuries and require long-term burn treatment. Such burns result in charred or burned skin and deliver extreme pain levels.
• Fourth-degree burn: The most devastating type of burn injury that can result in amputation since the burn travels to the muscles and the bones.

Besides the four main types of burn injuries, there are also radiation burns common in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

A Severe Burn Injury Can Lead to Disfigurement

A burn injury, depending on the severity of the burn, delivers a jolting and continuous pain as the burn damages the tissues and nerves under the skin. Besides the pain and suffering, the disfigurement that comes with severe burn injuries can socially affect the victim’s life and will require skin graft surgery. All these come with a lot of financial burdens, and the disfigurement alone can lead to emotional trauma, depression, and other social issues, further deepening the damages from burn injuries.

Do You Need a Lawyer to Help You with Your Burn Injury Case?

Having burn injuries can be traumatizing and require constant care to ensure healing; however, with burn injuries to deal with and insurers ringing up your phone, the stress can get to any burn victim. We recommend getting a lawyer to investigate your burn injury case since a qualified lawyer can hold negligent parties accountable.

In California, to have a substantial case against the negligent party, the victim must prove a duty of care and a breach of duty of care. The burn victim must also prove that the negligent party’s actions resulted in damages and put a value on the claims.

Putting a dollar value over the damages can be challenging, but it is even more complex when it comes to burn injuries. An experienced burn injury attorney can help you prove the duty of care and collect evidence to prove the breach of duty of care. An expert burn injury lawyer will also help determine the value of your claims and file a lawsuit against the responsible parties.

Will My Third Degree Burns Case Go to Trial?

At Ehline Law, our Los Angeles burn injury attorneys are experts in dealing with insurers to settle cases outside courts. This helps save time and lives, but it burns patients the money to pay for their medical bills, skin graft surgery, and restart their lives. However, when the burn victims face extreme burns and disfigurement, we make sure to take the legal battle to the courts.

Settlements outside the court are often lower than what you can get in the court if you have substantial evidence against the negligent party. Our Los Angeles burn injury lawyers are experts in collecting evidence and establishing claims and have the right experience to take negligent parties to court.

Contact us at (213) 596-9642 and get a free consultation with the legal experts today!

Citations:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/burns/symptoms-causes/syc-20370539

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/burns