Firefighters undergo extensive training in hellish conditions to prepare them for the realities of rushing into burning homes and buildings to rescue those trapped by the flames. But there is little to prepare them for the lingering effects of burns they suffer while performing lifesaving tasks.
Read on to learn how the far-reaching consequences of a series of burn injuries can affect the economic and psychological future of firefighters injured on the job.
Burn victims suffer high mortality rates
Severely burned firefighters, despite the protective gear they wear (which can weigh approximately 45 lbs.), have a high rate of mortality from their burn wounds. But even those who survive the initial thermal assault to their bodies face a long road to recovery.
Third-degree burns cause victims to go into shock, experience attacks on their immune system and suffer from metabolic shifts that can lead to failures of multiple organ systems.
Lingering psychological effects
Once they have survived the first hurdles, their battles are far from over. Of all potential injuries, burns likely leave the most severe alterations to their physical bodies. The ravages of fire are unforgiving, leaving permanent scars and deformation that not only affects them physically, but emotionally and psychologically, too.
Unlike a fracture that has healed and left a minimal scar, the scars from burns are typically visible even after multiple facial reconstructive surgeries. Their altered appearance causes profound psychological distress that can cause them to withdraw emotionally from loved ones and friends. They may choose not to appear in public due to their facial scarring and other deformities.
Settlements should reflect ongoing treatment for injuries
A severely burned firefighter likely will never be able to return to active duty. They may not be able to work again in any capacity. This, along with the need for continued psychological counseling, should be factored into any financial settlement from workers’ compensation.
Learning more about how the system works can help them recover the maximum amount of damages for the injuries they suffered in the line of duty.
