Burn Injury Resource Center

Published on: March 3, 2011

A New Way to Regenerate Skin for Victims of Third-Degree Burns

Before I get to the topic in the headline, here’s a quick story: As I’ve written about in past blog entries, even the most mundane situations inside the home can result in third-degree burns. Another example came to light this week in Worthington, VA, where a routine cooking accident severely burned a man and damaged much of the home.

It was this simple: A visitor to the home accidentally splashed oil from a deep fryer onto the stove and onto the floor. Unfortunately, the oil landed on the visitor’s hands and feet, instantly causing second- and third-degree burns that required treatment at the West Penn Burn Center across the state border. Furthermore, the splashed oil also caused the window curtains to catch fire. Fire crews from four towns had to respond to the fire. The family now lives in a hotel temporarily, thanks to the American Red Cross.

Now for the good news that this blog’s title refers to. The web site InHabitat.com reported this week that scientists from the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine are advancing in their goal to regenerate more of a person’s own healthy skin to repair burn damage on another part of the body. Inspired by, of all things, the typical office printer and its ink cartridge, the research team believes it could soon “print” human skin.

Continue reading →

Published on: March 1, 2011

A Terrible Month for Fires and Third-Degree Burns due to Carelessness

By Larry Kramer

Unfortunately, it seems that the month of February 2011 can be used by fire-prevention experts as a useful lesson in how human error and carelessness can bring devastating consequences, in the form of third-degree burns and smoke inhalation, from fires.

First, in New York City on February 24, candles used in a bedroom caused a fatal five-alarm fire after they tipped over and ignited bed sheets. The fire left an elderly woman dead and also injured 20 firefighters and three residents. The occupant of the apartment where the fire began had placed the candles on the floor around her bed. At some point, they tipped over, and a guest doused the flames with water.

But then the guest made a terrible mistake–he opened a window to clear the smoke from the room, which allowed fresh air to feed the fire again. The fire department said this actually created a “blowtorch effect” that whipped through the open window and pushed the fire all the way through the apartment. Then, as the occupants were fleeing through the apartment, they left the bedroom door and the front door open, which allowed the fire to spread all the way into the building’s hallway and quickly engulf the rest of the building.

Continue reading →

Published on: February 24, 2011

Spring is Coming, and so are Outdoor Fires–and Severe Burns

By Larry Kramer

It’s not even springtime yet, but the wildfire season has begun in the eastern U.S.

Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have experienced low humidity and little rain for a few months now. The result is that there are leaves, bushes, grass, and trees that can be easily ignited by human carelessness.

The largest fire of nearly 300 wildfires that sparked in eastern North Carolina on Saturday kept burning Sunday, and state forest service officials warned that the potential for fast-moving flames would last several days. Crews said they have the fire 80 percent contained and did not expect any home evacuations, but noted that the fire’s spread can be unpredictable.

Continue reading →

Published on: February 23, 2011

Third Degree Burns and Smoke Inhalation, gas explosion 3

By Larry Kramer

This is the story of “D” (we will use “D” to protect her identity). “D” was severely injured as the result of a gas explosion which also injured her 3 sisters and took her mother’s life. Her story is compelling, sad and heart warming. She was in no uncertain terms on death’s doorstep but she endured. We (Kramer & Pollack, LLP) were there with her in the hospital through every step of her ordeal.

“D” suffered third degree burns over 70% of her body. She was hospitalized for 10 months. She had several skin graft procedures. “D” went into cardiac arrest and required advanced cardiac life support. A Tracheostomy was performed to help her breath. Her esophagus was burned b/c she apparently inhaled at the moment of the explosion. Her teeth were also burnt. She had to learn how to breathe and speak through her tracheotomy (something she found very uncomfortable). Her fingers were so badly injured that they auto amputated (parts of her fingers just fell off). She suffers from keloid scars. She was required to wear a compression mask (on her face) and a compression garment for 24 hours a day. She was unable to walk at first but with extensive rehabilitation she regained her muscle tone and she is now able to walk. She suffers from post traumatic stress disorder as a result of the explosion, the incredible pain and the loss of her mother. She was almost 5 and a half at the time of the explosion.

“D” is now in school. She has difficulty with school but she perseveres. Like her sisters, she is an inspiration to all who know her. “D” is one of the best examples of the ability of the human spirit to overcome, endure and excel.

Published on: February 22, 2011

Survivors of Third-Degree Burns Help Each Other Move Forward with Life Again

By Larry Kramer

A very informative and heart-warming story came from the local newspaper in Portland, Oregon last week, related to the difficult process of emotional healing for victims of disfiguring third-degree burns.

The article explained the uplifting happenings that take place during a regular gathering of a group called Portland Burn Survivors Inc. In fact, the writer of the story seemed to be moved by one of the very first things the group does once everyone arrives at the restaurant–they make a toast that goes, “Cheers for being alive!”

The article goes on to say that until about 30 years ago, surviving a severe burn meant constant pain and medical complications that usually led to premature death. But technological advances mean that many more people today survive severe burns. The problem is, the emotional trauma of living with bad scars and other complications are very recent too, so there is not a lot of research about exactly how burn victims need to think and act in order to lead happy lives.

Continue reading →

Published on: February 17, 2011

Preventing Fires and Severe Burns When in the Kitchen

By Larry Kramer

Tom Kiurski is a lieutenant, a paramedic, and the director of fire safety education for the Livonia, Michigan Fire & Rescue. He’s written a book, “Creating a Fire-Safe Community: A Guide for Fire Safety Educators” as a guide for local fire departments to bring the safety message to their communities. Here’s a summary of his views on preventing kitchen fires and third-degree burns:

Under normal circumstances, most folks would not throw a kitchen cloth onto a burning stove, or help spread a fire from a pan to the cabinets, or add oxygen to a fire so that it flares up faster. Yet these things happens much too often because of panic. So let’s take a look at how we can use safety sense in the kitchen to reduce the of having an unwanted fire.

Cooking is the leading cause of fires and civilian fire injuries in the United States. Two out of three reported home cooking fires start with the range or stove–and usually involve food, grease, rags, bags, cabinets, curtains, or other household items getting ignited.

Continue reading →

Published on: February 16, 2011

Third Degree Burns and Smoke Inhalation, gas explosion 2

By Larry Kramer

In the first installment I wrote about the devastating injuries suffered by the mother of 4 children all under the age of 5. The 4 girls were also injured as a result of the gas explosion. This is the story of one of the girls, we will call her “L” to preserve her Identity.

At the time of the explosion “L” was 3 weeks shy of her 3rd birthday. She was a vivacious and fun loving child. As a result of the explosion she suffered third degree burns on 90% of her body. She was hospitalized for almost 4 months. As a result of the explosion she suffered severe damage to the optic nerve in her right eye. Her eye was surgically removed and a prosthetic was implanted. She also became blind in her left eye. The doctors surmised that this was a sympathetic response to the injury in the left eye. She is totally blind.

“L” suffers from Keloid scarring on her hands, face and body. She also suffers from contractures. Her range of motion has been compromised due to the extensive scarring. She suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. She is afraid to sleep alone.

Continue reading →

Published on: February 15, 2011

Cooking-Related Burns are Very Common–and Very Preventable!

By Larry Kramer

For most people, food is a truly enjoyable part of life. But when people are careless with hot food, injuries can happen–even 3rd degree burns!

For instance, just last week a couple filed suit in the California courts against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, claiming their young son suffered “severe burns” as a result of scalding-hot nacho cheese served to them. In the suit, the parents of a four-year-old boy said they were eating dinner at Disney World in Orlando last March when the cheese was spilled on their son’s face. The suit says that “the cheese was scalding hot and resulted in severe burns” to the child, and that Disney served the cheese “negligently and carelessly” and made “no effort” to regulate its temperature.

What’s more, the suit says the child suffered “permanent scarring, pain and suffering” as a result of the burns, and his parents suffered “emotional distress” from witnessing his agony. The family asked the court for the medical and legal costs incurred, as well as punitive damages.

Continue reading →

Published on: February 11, 2011

Skin Bank and Third Degree Burns

By Larry Kramer

The skin as any other organ in the body can be damaged like in second and third degree burns. If the damage is big enough the body can’t replace the skin. There are alternative ways to cover the injured area and one of the methods used is allograft which is skin taken from another human being and given it to another. One of the major traumas the skin is exposed to is burns and in severe burns one of the methods used to replace skin is using allograft.

Skin banks are present in many parts of the world. They use skin from donor people after their death who provided consent to donate their skin. Usually skin banks are located near burn centers or as part of the hospital that contains the burn center.

Donors while they are alive sign a donation form with the presence of witnesses allowing their skin to be donated after their death. Anyone can be a donor and by being a donor this will not affect the person in any way regarding the care and treatment that he/she is receiving while they are alive.

Continue reading →

Published on: February 10, 2011

To prevent fires, burns and smoke inhalation, keep a tidy home

By Larry Kramer

I’ve posted a few entries lately about home fires that began because of unusual circumstances. In one instance, a fire destroyed a house and nearly killed two girls because clothing was laying across an extension cord that shorted out.

But just because a fire started from an unusual source doesn’t mean that it was not preventable. In New York City this week, a retired schoolteacher died after a fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. in her apartment. While the cause of the blaze is not yet known, neighbors say that the 82-year-old woman was a hoarder whose clutter in her third-floor apartment was surely a fire hazard. A religious woman, “she saved fliers from every church she had ever been to,” said the building’s manager. “I helped her move apartments just to give her a clean start. She used to say, ‘When I was growing up, I didn’t have anything.'” That seems to be why the woman rarely threw anything away. But when the fire began, the woman, who used a cane, could not get out of her front door. In fact, she was heard yelling, ‘I’m scared!” It’s a tragic story.

Now, most of us do not rise to the level of hoarder–but collecting too much stuff within the home is a problem that many of us do have. While this retired schoolteacher had scores of flammable papers all around her house, it’s likely that many of us have “overcollected” things that aren’t necessary anymore. What’s more, even simple messiness with items that you do use regularly can pose a serious fire hazard within the home.

Continue reading →