Frequently Asked Questions

The rule of nines is a quick method doctors and emergency medical providers use to estimate what percentage of a person's body has been burned, using nine or multiples of nine. For adults, each arm is 9 percent, the head and neck 9 percent, each leg 18 percent, the front and the back of the trunk 18 percent each and the genitalia 1 percent. The estimate helps decide fluid replacement and the level of care needed, and children use adjusted percentages. See the rule of nines tables.

It depends on the depth of the burn. Superficial or first-degree burns typically heal within a few days to a week. Partial-thickness or second-degree burns can take several weeks, depending on the depth and extent of tissue damage. Full-thickness or third-degree burns are the most severe and may require months to years to heal fully, often with skin grafting, rehabilitation and physical therapy. Burn severity, the patient's age and health, and how quickly treatment begins all affect the timeline. Read How Long Do Burn Injuries Last?

It depends on the severity of the burn and the stage of healing. For first-degree burns, getting the area wet is generally safe and cool water can relieve pain, but avoid ice or ice-cold water. Second-degree burns need more care: keeping the area clean matters, but prolonged exposure to water, especially hot water, can increase pain and the risk of infection. Third-degree burns should not be submerged in water without the supervision of healthcare professionals. When in doubt, ask a medical professional. Read Can Burn Injuries Get Wet?

Superficial first-degree burns typically do not bleed because they do not reach the blood vessels. Second-degree burns can bleed, particularly if a blister ruptures and exposes the vessels underneath. Third-degree burns may not bleed much at first because the blood vessels are cauterized, but the wound can ooze or seep blood as it begins to heal. If a burn is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth, keep the wound clean and seek medical attention if the bleeding continues. Read Can Burn Wounds Bleed?

Cool the skin and stop the burn from progressing. For a minor burn, cover it with a cool, wet towel or soak it in cold water for about five minutes, then cover it with a sterile cloth. Do not apply ice, cream, lotion or an adhesive bandage. If clothing is stuck to the skin, do not pull it off; cut it away. Anything more than a minor burn, including blisters, severe pain, swelling or large areas of redness, needs immediate medical attention. Our burn treatment page has more detail.

Chemical burns happen when hazardous products are mislabeled, placed in the wrong containers or used improperly, at work and at home. Common household products such as bleach, drain cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, concrete mix, pool chlorinator and anything containing lye can cause them, and most chemical burns occur in the workplace. If a product lacked warning labels, the manufacturer may be responsible. If a chemical was improperly stored or used, the contractor or supplier may be at fault. Learn more about chemical burn injuries.

The Firefighter's Rule is a law in 32 states that acts as a defense to a lawsuit by an injured firefighter, police officer or other emergency responder, blocking recovery from the negligent party whose conduct created the emergency on the theory that responders assume the risk of their job. Other states have rejected it, and even where it applies there are exceptions, such as failure to warn of hidden dangers, wilful or intentional conduct, code violations and injuries caused by third parties. Read our firefighter injury lawyer page.

The kit includes Mr. Samakow's book Twice Burned, a critically acclaimed book describing compensation rights for burn survivors, along with the Apartment Fire Safety Plan & Checklist, the Homeowner & Renter Fire Safety Checklist, the Vehicle Fire Safety Guide and papers on apartment building fires, chemical burns, workplace burn injuries, worker's compensation and electrical burns. It also unlocks access to all videos in the Burn Injury Prevention Video Library. Fill out the short form to get instant access to the free Burn Injury Resource Kit.

Twice Burned is Paul Samakow's critically acclaimed book describing compensation rights for burn survivors. Burn injuries are the single most difficult type of injury known to medical science, incredibly painful both physically and psychologically. If you are a burn survivor or a member of a burn survivor's family, get the book: you will learn about recovery, best practices around care and treatment, and so much more. It is free as part of the Burn Injury Resource Kit, and the video library has short videos about what the book covers.

The free Burn Injury Video Library has short videos from Paul Samakow on scald injuries, electrical fire risks, burn injuries to women and children in the home, advice for parents of children with burn injuries, school reintegration after a burn accident and his interview with Curt Varone on fire law. The Samakow National Burn Injury Attorney Podcast covers avoiding fires and burns, utility company fires, space heaters, heating pad fires, child burn injury lawsuits, smoke inhalation injuries, vacuum cleaner burns and burns from microwavable soup cups.

Paul Samakow created National Burn Prevention Day, which kicked off on May 19, 2021, as a resource for safety issues for the public and to solicit donations for fire departments, burn camps and other organizations that seek to either prevent burn injuries or help those who have been injured. The website, nationalburnpreventionday.org, has numerous safety tips that can be printed or downloaded for free, plus donation links for burn awareness and education, burn camps, prevention and fire services, burn organizations and associations, and medical care and burn centers.