National Burn Awareness Week, an annual event designed to promote burn prevention, is dedicated this year to the subject of electrical safety.
What Is National Burn Awareness Week?
Each year during the first full week of February, the American Burn Association presents National Burn Awareness Week. The organization calls the event a “window of opportunity for burn care organizations, burn survivor support groups, and public safety and injury prevention professionals to increase awareness among the general population of the frequency and causes of burn injury in America, and the advances in and sources of burn care available today.”
Burns are among the main factors in accidental injury to people of all ages in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fire ranks sixth among the top causes of preventable death nationwide.
Burn injuries frequently result from unprotected electrical outlets, lighting, improperly used extension cords, and defective workplace electrical equipment. With this in mind, the American Burn Association has made “Electrical Safety from Amps to Zap (A to Z)!” the theme of National Burn Awareness Week 2021.
How to Prevent Electrical Burns
Electrical malfunctions are a leading cause of home and business fires, which can inflict serious injury and death. But as this year’s National Burn Awareness Week reminds us, electrical burns are preventable if we observe some common-sense guidelines, such as the following:
- Plug high-wattage appliances like air conditioners and space heaters directly into wall outlets. DO NOT use power strips or extension cords with such devices.
- Charge cellphones, laptops, and tablets on hard surfaces, not soft ones like beds or upholstered furniture.
- Unplug any devices powered by lithium-ion batteries once they are fully charged. Never overcharge them or leave them charging overnight.
- Turn off space heaters, heating pads, and electric blankets before going to bed.
- Do not put metal in a microwave oven.
- In the case of a microwave oven fire, keep the door shut and unplug the appliance if it is safe to do so.
- Make sure battery terminals do not come into contact with each other or with other metals and always tape the ends of batteries if you are storing them loosely in a drawer.
Chicago Burn Injury Lawyers Fighting for You
But even if you take all of the precautions listed above, electrical fires and burn injuries may still occur, sometimes as the result of somebody else’s negligent actions. If this is the case, consider doing what so many other burn victims have done before you and reach out to the Chicago burn injury attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers LLC.
With over $2 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements, GWC is one of the premier Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation law firms in Illinois. No other plaintiff firm is more respected – or more feared – by its adversaries, both inside and outside of the courtroom. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have the experience, the determination, the resources, and the well-earned reputation of success necessary to help you and your family get the justice you deserve.
If you are the innocent victim of a negligent burn injury, contact GWC today to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation with one of our dedicated injury attorneys. You may call our office at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.
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