Burns are among the most painful injuries that one can experience, claiming over 2 million Americans as victims every year. More than half of these people sustain significant or permanent disabilities. Thousands more die.

When skin burns, nerve endings are damaged causing intense feelings of pain. Serious burns are complex injuries, affecting muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels. The respiratory system can also be damaged, with possible airway obstruction, respiratory failure and respiratory arrest.

Because burns injure the skin, they impair the body’s normal fluid/electrolyte balance, body temperature, body thermal regulation, joint function, manual dexterity, and physical appearance. Patients also may suffer emotional and psychological problems that can begin at the emergency scene and sometimes last a lifetime.