There are many ways for people to develop significant burn injuries. In some cases, people get hurt at work, possibly because they handle flammable materials. Other times, defective wiring or batteries and consumer products may lead to fires that cause injuries. Car crashes are another possible source of significant burn injuries.
Some burns are minor and cause few long-term consequences. However, those who require trauma care often have second-, third- or fourth-degree burns. Those burns may cover a significant portion of their bodies, including visible body parts such as the face and hands.
Those with higher-degree burns or burns over a significant portion of their bodies often require immediate trauma care after getting hurt. They may also experience long-term financial consequences related to decreased income and increased lifetime medical expenses. The following are some of the ways that burn injuries inspire long-term financial pressure on individuals.
Physical impairment
Burn injuries do not always heal fully. They are likely to cause significant scarring. Scar tissue can negatively affect an individual’s functional capabilities. Scar tissue from burns can decrease people’s range of motion. It may be painful to stretch the skin past a certain point because of the scarring. Those who perform physically-demanding jobs may find that their scars prevent them from doing their jobs efficiently or comfortably.
Mental health consequences
Individuals dealing with the aftermath of significant burn injuries often struggle with their psychological recovery. They may experience several long-term mental health challenges even after their initial injuries heal. People with significant burn injuries may be at increased risk of major depressive disorder when compared with members of the general public. They may also potentially develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of the incident that led to their injuries. Some people develop an aversion to scenarios that remind them of when they got hurt initially. The mental health consequences of burns can affect interpersonal relationships, earning potential and overall quality of life.
Changes in appearance
Visible burn scars do not need to limit functional abilities to affect people’s quality of life and income. Beauty bias can impact what people make, especially in customer-facing careers. Those in management and similar roles may find that burn scars may limit their career opportunities and income.
Recognizing that burn injuries have the potential to create catastrophic consequences can help people pursue justice after a product failure, workplace incident or car crash. Burn survivors often need help getting compensation to cover their medical expenses and offset the secondary financial consequences of their burn injuries, and that’s okay.