Burns from Hot Water Scalding
Burns from scalding hot water can occur because of negligently installed or defective water systems, insufficiently trained staff or intentional abuse..
In 2004, an elderly disabled woman was severely scalded in a California nursing home when an untrained caregiver put her into a 130-degree shower for 20 minutes which caused second- and third-degree burns on her genitals, thighs, stomach and lower back.
More recently, a Tulsa nurse’s aide did not check the shower water temperature to ensure it was safe and scalded two residents which resulted in severe burns. One of the patients suffered burns over 30 percent of his body.
After a 6-second exposure to 140-degree water or a 30-second exposure to 130-degree water burns will occur. Even at a water temperature of 120 degrees, a 5-minute exposure could result in third-degree burns.
Burns from Electrical Equipment
Unsupervised nursing home residents, especially elderly residents who tend to wander into an unsafe environment, can result in residents being burned on electrical equipment, such as ovens, stoves or faulty electrical systems.
Burns from Fires
Fire safety should be a major priority in nursing homes. Nursing home residents often have mobility restrictions, confusion from dementia, or are on medications that can impair their ability to perceive danger and act upon it sufficiently. When a fire breaks out in a nursing home the facility should have an effective escape plan in place and sufficient staff on hand to implement that plan.
In 2005, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ruled that all nursing homes and long term care facilities, at minimum, install battery-operated smoke alarms in all resident rooms and public areas, unless the rooms and public areas have a hard-wired smoke alarm system or a sprinkler system is installed throughout the facility.
Neglect to abide by these requirements, to maintain fire safety equipment, or to effectively implement a fire escape plan can result in catastrophe for frail nursing home residents when fires occur.
Cigarette Burns
One of the most hideous of offenses against nursing home residents are burns from cigarettes. These types of burns can suggest outright physical abuse. Skin lesions that are suspected to have been caused by a burning cigarette require a thorough investigation to determine the cause of infliction. Accidental cigarette burns must be differentiated from burn injuries due to self-infliction or maltreatment. An intentional infliction of a cigarette burn must be taken into consideration when the burn occurs on a region of the body that does not normally come into contact with a cigarette by chance. Full thickness burns from glowing cigarettes require an exposure time of more than 1 second.
If you or someone you love has suffered injury from burns in an Arizona nursing home due to abuse or neglect, you need legal help.
The experienced Arizona Nursing Home Abuse attorneys at the Young & Wallin Law Firm are dedicated to pursuing justice for those injured by nursing home abuse, neglect and medical negligence and are committed to helping prevent elder abuse and neglect by diligently defending the legal rights of nursing home residents. Contact attorney James Morgan at our Arizona nursing home abuse law firm for a free consultation. If we believe you have grounds for a personal injury case, we will only receive compensation if you are awarded for damages or restitution.
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