Smoke inhalation injuries are potentially life-threatening and can lead to chronic conditions. Most fire-related inhalation injuries in the US are the result of single home fires.
Types of Smoke Inhalation Injuries
According to Pulmonary Advisor, there are three types of smoke inhalation injuries caused by exposure to smoke in a burning environment:
- Direct injury to airways, especially upper airways
- Chemical injury to airways
- Systemic injury caused by inhaling toxic compounds and immunologic responses
Signs of Smoke Inhalation Injuries
Environmental factors such as the source of the fire, duration of smoke exposure, and ventilation impact the severity of smoke inhalation injuries. Some common signs of inhalational injury include:
- Burns on the face and neck
- Cough
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty speaking or breathing
- Nausea/vomiting
- Singed nasal hair
- Oral and nasal secretions that contain soot
- Carboxyhemoglobin >10% within the first hour
- Headache
Particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and other compounds can be generated in smoke, impacting the severity of a smoke inhalation injury.
If you suspect that someone is suffering from a smoke inhalation injury, they need to be removed from the source of the smoke and transported to an emergency room. Call 911 immediately.
If you or a loved one has been injured and you have questions about smoke inhalation injury, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
