Smoke Inhalation Injuries

When many people think of the dangers posed by fires, they imagine exterior bodily injuries like burns. What they don’t know, however, is that anywhere between 50 and 80% of fire-related deaths are actually caused by smoke inhalation. When victims are trapped inside a burning building, they are stuck inhaling air that has been infiltrated by hot combustion materials. If they do not exit the area as soon as possible, even if they are nowhere near the flame, they may suffer severe respiratory damage.

How Smoke Inhalation Harms You

There are several ways in which smoke inhalation harms the human body:

• Thermal Injuries: The gases caused by combustion are very hot and can cause internal burns in the mouth and upper respiratory tract.
• Irritation: When certain combustion materials contact the internal lining of the lungs and respiratory tract, they may cause immediate damage and irritation. As a result, these organs may swell and result in very difficult breathing.
• Asphyxiation: Combustion materials can use up the area’s oxygen or, if inhaled, can harm your body’s ability to process oxygen, resulting in cellular damage and even death.

If you are caught in a fire and begin to experience wet coughing, difficulty breathing, confusion and lightheadedness, sensory irritation, and headaches, then you are likely suffering from smoke inhalation. The degree of your injuries will depend on what symptoms you feel before you exit the area to fresh air.

Contact Us

If you have suffered a smoke inhalation injury due to a malfunctioning smoke detector or a fire caused by someone else’s negligence, then you may have the right to recover compensation. The fire and explosion lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ® can help you claim damages. To learn more, contact our offices today by calling 800-242-2874.