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October 18, 2014 by Greg Baumgartner
A scald is a burn to the skin caused by moist heat, such as hot water or steam. Scalding from hot water can easily result in a second-degree burn.
A scalding injury often occurs when a water heater is too high, especially in young children. His scalding burn can be an accident or even intentional, as in cases of child abuse.
Many children are put in a much too hot bath, and the results can be catastrophic. A landlord or other owner can be responsible for the water heater’s maximum temperature.
Certainly, no child should be put into a hot bath or water without an adult testing the temperature to ensure it is okay.
Every year, over a hundred thousand people are treated in emergency rooms because of scalding. Many are hospitalized, and about 80% of the serious hot-water burns are in either children, the elderly, or those who are physically or mentally impaired.
Many people turn their water heaters up high because they lack hot water availability. This can be a tremendous mistake when the cold water is not balanced out, and leads to a serious burn injury on the part of a child. For children who were injured by others, contact a child injury lawyer asap for help.
Minor scalding injuries can be treated with cold water or ice immediately after the burn. Over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol or aspirin may also reduce the pain. Many experts argue against using antiseptic creams or sprays, suggesting that they may inhibit healing.
Very severe burns can result in extremely painful and long-lasting injury, and even skin grafts may be appropriate. The cost of severe burn injuries can easily run into hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical care for burns and may require a lifetime of suffering.
It is shocking how quickly someone can get burned with hot water. The severity of the burn depends on how long the skin is in contact with the hot water and the water temperature.
Hot water heaters for home use are recommended to be set at 120°F and no hotter. At 140°F, a serious burn can occur in five seconds.
Other sources of burn injuries can be children playing or attempting to help in the kitchen when food is cooking on the stove. Hot water or hot grease spilled on a child can be life-threatening. Keep pots and containers with hot liquid out of reach of children at all times. Burns can also happen at daycare centers, and if your child is injured at a daycare, call an attorney as soon as possible.
Always have an experienced caretaker looking after your children, and test the water before putting a young child in the bathwater.
If your child has suffered serious burns due to the negligence of another, call the burn injury lawyers at the Baumgartner Law Firm for a free consultation.
Our personal injury attorneys have won numerous burn injury cases. Some involve burns and child injury, and others involve defective products.
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77069
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Since establishing Baumgartner Law Firm in 1985, Greg Baumgartner has built a reputation as one of Houston’s leading personal injury attorneys, dedicated to representing severely injured victims and families who have lost loved ones due to negligence.
Greg holds two law degrees, a distinction earned by less than 1% of all attorneys, demonstrating his exceptional legal expertise. He is also a prestigious Trial Lawyers College graduate, further enhancing his skills in trial advocacy and litigation.
His relentless commitment to legal excellence and client advocacy has earned him recognition from prestigious organizations, including Super Lawyers, the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and many others.
With decades of experience, Greg has consistently received top peer reviews. He holds a preeminent rating, a testament to his unwavering dedication to securing justice and maximum compensation for his clients.
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