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Burn Injury Statistics

According to data from the United States Fire Administration, each year more than 4,000 Americans die as a result of fires and more than 23,000 are injured seriously enough to require hospitalization. Here are some additional facts about burn injuries and deaths:

• 1.25 million burn injuries per year.
  
• African Americans and Native Americans have significantly higher death rates than the national average. They account for 27 percent of fire deaths.
  
• Twice as many men have died in fires as women.
  
• People with limited physical and cognitive abilities, especially the very young and very old, are at a higher risk of death and injury from fire than other groups.
  
• In 1998 alone, approximately 3,100 children under the age of 15 were injured and 750 were killed in fires. Children accounted for 13 percent of all fire injuries and 19 percent of all fire deaths.
  
• Approximately 2,550 older adults (65 and older) were injured and 1,035 killed. This group accounted for 11 percent of fire injuries and 26 percent of fire deaths.
  
• By a wide margin, the leading cause of residential fires that result in child injuries and fatalities is children playing. The victims, however, are not necessarily the instigators of the fire: more than half of children fatalities and injuries occur when the child is asleep.
  
• Smoking is the leading cause of death to older adults and the second leading cause of their injury, behind cooking. As with young children, a large proportion of older adult fatalities occur while the victim is asleep.

If you would like you would like to discuss a possible burn injury lawsuit with a lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or fill in the firm's online-consultation form. All consultations are free.