a. General Information.

There are many causes of burns, such as direct contact with flames, hot liquids, chemicals, hot metals, radiation, and electrical current.

One of the functions of the skin is to retain the fluids of the body. Burns can cause loss of these fluids, which can result in shock. If a burn causes blisters or skin loss, there is also a danger of infection at the burn site. Hot gas and flame burns of the neck, nose, and mouth may result in the swelling of the airway. Even minor burns in enclosed areas may cause respiratory damage.

b. Causes of Thermal Burns.

The most common type of burns is thermal burn.

Thermal burns are caused by direct contact with a heat source. Playing with matches, space heaters igniting papers or drapes in a house, and malfunction of electrical appliances can all cause thermal burns. Another cause of thermal burns is scalding hot liquid such as the hot water tap turned on by a small child in a bathtub or hot water accidentally spilled from a pot on a stove.

Around holidays–particularly the Fourth of July or Christmas–individuals who handle fireworks improperly become thermal burn victims. However, the greatest number of thermal burns is caused by gasoline or other fuels bursting into flame and burning anyone who is near.

c. Cause of Electrical Burns.

Electrical burns are caused by accidental contact with exposed parts of electrical wiring.

Because we touch and grasp with our hands, the hands are the areas where electrical current most often enters the body.

d. Causes of Chemical Burns.

Chemical burns occur when the body comes in contact with caustic substances (substances capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue) such as acids, alkalis, white phosphorus, and napalm.

e. Causes of Radiant Burns.

The word “radiation” is a general term for the process of energy being transmitted from one body through a medium or space and
absorbed by another body.

Radiation burns can be caused by nuclear energy, ultraviolet light, visible light, heat, sound, and x-rays. If asked to name the most
common cause of radiation burns, many people would answer industrial accidents such as an accident at a nuclear energy plant. However, the most common radiation burn is probably sunburn–radiation from the sun.