Inhalation Injuries

There is a common misconception that those who perish in building fires die from the various burns received from the fires. While this would make sense, it is not true. Individuals who die in building fires generally die of carbon monoxide poisoning or asphyxiation, not burns. Building fires are not a significant source of deaths from burns, but they are a significant source of inhalation injuries.

Inhalation injuries occur when an individual inhales something that damages the airways and pathways leading to the lungs. The cause of the injury can be a chemical, steam, or smoke from a fire. Regardless of the cause, the damage can be serious.

When the hot substance, like steam, is inhaled, it has the ability to burn all of the sensitive tissues from the nose and mouth down to the lungs and into the lungs themselves. These tender and delicate cells require a lengthy healing period.

Treating inhalation injuries can also be quite difficult. Because the injuries are internal, it is not nearly as easy to apply clean bandages and check on the state of healing on a daily basis. In addition, the trauma to the area has the potential to swell, leading to impaired breathing. On top of that, if the lungs produce fluid to heal themselves, this too can make breathing difficult.

While inhalation injuries are rare, they are just as serious as any other type of burn or injury. These injuries need to be monitored and checked constantly to ensure proper recovery.

Contact a Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have suffered lung damage while in the workplace or in an accident, contact the Philadelphia personal injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-238-1130 to discuss the facts of your case.