Los Angeles Burn Injury Attorneys Helping Victims Hold Nursing Homes Accountable for Negligence and Abuse

Burn injuries can result from various acts of neglect

When people think of burn injuries, they often envision injuries caused by fires. While this is one cause, in nursing homes there are numerous types of hazards that can lead to severe burn injuries for residents. Our experienced Los Angeles burn injury lawyers have seen incidents involving:

• Bath or shower water that is too hot. Staff members have an obligation to ensure that the water used for bodily cleaning is prepared to a reasonable temperature. According to the Burn Foundation, 140° tap water can cause serious third-degree burns after only five seconds of exposure. For an elderly person with delayed reflexes or an inability to communicate, this type of incident can lead to catastrophic injuries.
• Food or drinks that are too hot. Staff members are also responsible for ensuring that food and beverages are not too hot before serving them to a resident. Microwave oven usage commonly creates hot spots, where the temperature is substantially hotter in one area of the food or drink. Food preparers should carefully check food temperatures, especially when using a microwave. Hot beverages like coffee and tea can also be hazardous for residents. Not only can they cause serious injury to the resident’s mouth, but spilled liquids can also scald other areas of the body.
• Exposed electrical work. When nursing homes are not adequately maintained, residents may be exposed to any number of burn injury hazards. Exposed electrical wires can cause shock or electrocution when touched by an unsuspecting resident. These are also fire hazards that, when left in disrepair, can place all residents of the nursing home in danger of a wide-spread fire. Facility managers have a duty to correct and repair exposed electrical wires at initial discovery.
• Inadequate supervision of smoking residents. Responsibility for the care of nursing home residents also extends to protection against the actions of other residents. When facilities allow residents to smoke, staff members should closely monitor to ensure that it solely occurs in the designated area. Smoking in bed or in a room with oxygen tanks can prove particularly hazardous. Staff must also ensure that smoked cigarettes are disposed of in a proper manner to avoid additional dangers.
• Spilling cleaning chemicals. Cleaning can also create a burn hazard within nursing homes when staff members negligently spill cleaning chemicals onto a resident or allow residents to come in contact with these dangerous substances. The strong chemicals used in cleaning supplies can cause severe burning of the skin. If a resident ingests the product, burns can also occur within the mouth and throat.