Summer means heat and LOTS of it. For some folks, the warmer weather is fun in the sun: golfing, bicycling, ball games, cooking out with friends, hanging by the pool, or enjoying Alabama’s many lakes and rivers. But there’s one thing most people don’t think about until it happens to them: burn injuries. And it’s a fact that the risk for moderate to severe burn injury is dramatically increased in the summer months.
According to the American Burn Association, 450,000 people go to the emergency room for burn treatment each year. Of that number, approximately 3,400 die from burn injuries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that burns and fires are the third leading causes of death in the home.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Here are some common sources for burn injuries in the hot Alabama summertime:
- Barbecue grills – Even the expert “grill master” has an accident from time to time. Because of the popularity of outdoor grilling in the summer, it’s likely that accidents resulting in burns can occur. Every grill owner should read up on grilling fire safety tips regularly and seek to prevent injuries from happening to you and your friends and family.
- Fireworks – It’s no surprise that fireworks can cause intense burn injuries if not used properly. Bottle rockets, M-80s, cherry bombs, Roman candles, even sparklers can result in serious burns if they are used improperly and/or unsupervised. And it should be noted that sparklers are often used by small children who may not have an adequate understanding of the threat that sparklers pose. Never leave children unattended with any fireworks.
- Campfires – American families love camping in the summertime; and where there’s camping, there’s likely to be a campfire. So often people don’t take the proper steps in starting, maintaining, and extinguishing a fire; a lot of folks simply wing it. Perhaps pride is an issue and some people feel like they “know what they’re doing”. That’s a recipe for disaster. It’s a good idea to educate yourself on the details of fire-building – even if it’s a refresher course — so no one gets hurt.
- Pool chemicals – Fire and heat are the usual cause of burn injuries, but pool chemicals are often overlooked and just as dangerous. Chlorine and other abrasive chemicals can result in chemical burns when they come in contact with skin. Pool owners should persistently maintain the safety of the potentially hazardous chemicals in their pool, and those chemicals should be stored away safely when not in use.
Accidents happen. And when you or someone you love has suffered a burn injury because of someone’s negligence, you should seek legal assistance. Call the Guster Law Firm, LLC at (205) 581-9777 to get a free consultation.