Burns at a Nursing Home
Placing a loved one in a nursing home is not an easy decision but is often necessary to ensure that they receive the specialized care they need, and they are kept safe and secure. Nursing homes have a duty to keep your loved one protected from all safety hazards, yet when they fail, serious accidents can happen.
Burns are a very real danger to those in nursing homes, whether it be from smoking, fires, sunburns, hot water from bathing, heating pads, or hot foods and drinks. When nursing home staff are careless or neglectful in their duties, patients can suffer severe injury or even death.
If your loved one has suffered burns while under the care of a nursing home, contact 844 See Mike for a free case review.
Causes of Burns in Nursing Homes
Burns can happen for a variety of reasons to residents in nursing homes. Some of the potential burn hazards possible in a nursing home include:
- Smoking
Many nursing homes and assisted living facilities allow their residents to smoke both indoors and outdoors in pre-designated areas. By allowing smoking, the risk of nursing home fires, bed fires, skin burns, and other health conditions increases, putting all residents at risk.
If residents are not supervised while smoking or smoking policies are not strictly adhered to, the nursing home may be found to be negligent for not properly protecting its patients.
- Hot Foods
Nursing homes prepare hot foods and provide hot coffee to all their residents daily. If a resident struggles with eating on their own, it is the duty of the nursing home to provide assistance. Hot foods and drinks must be checked for proper temperature before being served to avoid spilling and burns when eating.
- Hot Water
Most nursing home residents require some assistance with bathing. Nursing home staff should be trained to properly check water before using it for bathing to prevent second or third degree burns due to scalding water temperature.
- Heat Exposure
Nursing homes have a legal duty to protect their residents from getting overheated and from getting excessive sun exposure. Residents who cannot move themselves easily should not be placed in the direct sunlight where they can quickly get sunburn. Air conditioning should be provided, and residents should be properly hydrated to avoid dehydration and heatstroke.
- Heating Pads and Heat Therapy
If a nursing home patient undergoes physical therapy, they may be involved in heat therapy. Therapists must recognize that senior skin is thinner and more sensitive and adjust the heat accordingly.
If nursing home patients use heating pads of any type, it is important that they are monitored closely. Safety heating pads should be used only when needed to avoid burns from overuse or the inability to move the body from the heat source.
Burns are preventable injuries. No matter what the source, if a resident is under the care of the nursing home and suffers any burn, the nursing home is neglectful in its care.
If you believe a loved one has been abused or neglected at a long-term care facility, contact 844 See Mike, for a free consultation. We are a Chicago injury law firm representing individuals and families who have suffered an injury or loss due to an accident. 844 See Mike, will handle your personal injury case quickly, will advise you every step of the way, and will not hesitate to go to trial for you.
Lastly, 844 See Mike, does not get paid attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. Therefore, you have nothing to risk when you hire us–just the opportunity to seek justice.
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