BURN VICTIMS MAY BENEFIT FROM PAID LEAVE
National Burn Awareness Week is in February
Hartford CT — The Connecticut Paid Leave Authority today reminded Connecticut workers that paid leave benefits may be available for burn victims and their caregivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, burn injuries are a leading cause of accidental death and injury in the United States, with over 398,000 individuals seeking medical care for burns each year. The American Burn Association estimates that there were over 29,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. last year and 3,800 deaths related to fire and smoke inhalation.
“Burns can sometimes result in serious injury, requiring reconstructive surgery and ongoing medical treatment,” said Erin Choquette, CEO of the CT Paid Leave Authority. “Paid leave makes it easier to take the time needed to recover from surgery or to meet regularly with your physician or to provide care for a family member who has suffered from severe burns.”
There are several different degrees of burns. A first-degree burn is sunburn, affecting the top layer of skin. It can be very painful because all the nerves are intact. Second-degree burn involves blistering because it has gone through the first layer and into the second layer of the dermis. The body reacts by putting fluid into that area. Third-degree means that the burn has gone through all the layers of the skin and into the deep layer. Regardless of level, burns can be incredibly painful as every single part of our skin has nerves.
“The biggest question I get from my patients is when am I going home? When can I go back to my job? When can I go back to school? Paid leave is amazing because it provides room so that they can take a little breath and say, okay, they’ve got me,” said Dr. Roselle Crombie, a surgeon specializing in general surgery, burn surgery, and surgical critical care at Yale New Haven Health. “And it covers the caregivers too, which is amazing. Because we all know that we get family members or caregivers that need help too.”
Burn risks exist in every living space — a house, apartment, or temporary shelter. Taking simple, proactive actions can help prevent burns and keep everyone safe. Small changes, like the following, create safer environments for all:
- Keep cords out of reach
- Do not leave candles unattended
- Check smoke alarms monthly
- Charge devices and store chemicals according to the manufacturer’s instructions
- Turn pot handles inward
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby
- Use oven mitts when handling hot items
- Don’t multitask when carrying hot food
- Use stable, heat-resistant dishes
- Keep hot liquids spill-proof
- Use timers when cooking
- Store flammable items away from heat
- Clean lint from the dryer after each use
- Ensure ventilation in small storage areas
- Supervise children in the bath
- Keep heat sources three feet away from fabrics
- Avoid heating pads without an auto shut-off feature
To hear more about Dr. Crombie’s practice and how paid leave can help burn victims, listen to the latest episode of the Paid Leave Podcast at https://www.ctpaidleave.org/resources-and-guides/paid-leave-podcast.
For more information about CT Paid Leave and how to apply, visit www.ctpaidleave.org.
