Your home is your refuge, your walled fortress away from the dangers of the world outside your door. But sadly, the home can also be a dangerous place, particularly when it comes to burn injuries. According to a review of admissions to burn centers over a ten year period from 1995 to 2005, a full 43 percent of burn injuries occurred in the home. Forty-six percent of all burn injuries reported during this time were a result of fire or flame contact, with 32 percent of all burn injuries the result of scalding. An additional eight percent of all burn injuries reported during this time were from contact with hot objects.
This clearly illustrates the kitchen and the bathroom are the primary danger zones for burn injuries in the home. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) reports home-cooking equipment as the leading source of home fires and related injuries. Unfortunately, many victims of burn injuries in the home are those least prepared for it — young children. In fact, the USFA reports the most prevalent sources of product-related thermal burn injuries for children under the age of 14 were common household items such as curling irons, room heaters, irons, hair curlers, ranges and ovens. Although children are unfortunately well-represented in the number of burn injuries reported, the elderly are also at risk. Most burn injuries in people over age 70 occur in the kitchen. According to the National Burn Information Exchange, the elderly make up the second largest group of burn injury victims after children, and their burns tend to be larger and are often more severe. It is important to note that product recalls due to defect and risk of injury are not uncommon, and manufacturers and retailers may be held liable in a court of law for injuries and even deaths caused by their products. No one readily expects to be the victim of a burn injury. Your home should be a place of refuge and comfort, and you should not have to live in fear of the potential burn injury hazards in your kitchen or bathroom. If you or someone you know is the victim of a burn injury in the home and you think you may have a personal injury case, it is extremely important that you know your rights as a consumer under Maryland law. Contact our law firm for a free case evaluation today.
