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The ins and outs of a burn injury

On Behalf of | Jan 14, 2017 | Maritime Accidents

As a New York seaman or construction worker on a vessel or structure owned by a petroleum company, you may be exposed to an increased risk for a burn injury. We at Tabak Mellusi & Shisha LLP understand that even mild burn injuries may cause severe pain and extensive treatment.

According to WebMD, the seriousness of a burn is not necessarily relative to the amount of pain it could cause you, and the treatment may also be extremely painful. Electrical burns, fires and chemicals are three common sources of burns, and it may cause your skin to swell, turn red, peel or blister. Your skin could also become charred or white, and if you develop weakness, clamminess and bluish fingernails, it could be a sign that you are going into shock.

The severity rating for burns indicates the depth of tissue that is affected. Only your outer layer of skin, known as the epidermis, is affected by a first-degree burn. You may need to take an over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen, and apply ointment, topical antibiotic or cream to the skin.

A second-degree burn also damages your second skin layer, the dermis, and a doctor may give you a prescription for a treatment to apply to the area. If both your epidermis and dermis are penetrated, you have a third-degree burn, and you may need skin grafts to cover the wound. The depth of the injury may lead to numbness and damage to the tissues underneath the skin. More information about marine injuries is available on our web page.