Burns occur at an alarming rate. In the United States alone, approximately two million people suffer from burns each year, and of these two million victims, approximately 500,000 seek treatment for burns and 40,000 are hospitalized (“Facts,” n.d.). Most burn injuries occur at work or at home, with approximately 40% of all burns occurring at home (“First,” 2011). Burns cause approximately 300,000 serious injuries each year and are attributed to the cause of approximately 6,000 deaths each year, making burns the third leading cause of accidental death in America (“Facts,” n.d.). There are three main categories of burns, which are named after the depth of the tissue affected by the burn. The first and most common type of burn is known as a superficial burn. This type of burn was previously known as a first-degree burn and affects only the outermost layer of the skin, called the epidermis. Superficial burns are the least harmful and usually heal in a week or less. The burned area is usually dry, red, and painful, with no blisters present (“Classification,” 2013). The most common example of a superficial burn is a mild sunburn. The second type of burn is a partial-thickness burn, formerly known as a second-degree burn. This type of burn affects the entire epidermis and part of the underlying dermis. The healing time for partial thickness burns depends on the extent of the burn, but varies from a week to over a month. The skin will be white or red, blistered, shiny, possibly moist, and painful to the touch (“Classification,” 2013). Partial thickness burns can be caused by scalding. The final type of burns to discuss are full-thickness burns, formerly known as third-degree burns. These burns are the most severe and... middle of paper... severe burns can, with immediate help from a competent healthcare team that has access to the right equipment and supplies, have a good chance of survival, even facing the third leading national cause of accidental death: burns. Works Cited Burn Rate in Adults: Rule of Nines. (2012, July 30). Emedicinehealth. Retrieved from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/burn_percentage_in_adults_rule_of_nines/article_em.htmClassification and treatment of burns. (2013). Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Retrieved from http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/burns/classify.htmlFacts about burns. (n.d.) University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Burn Center. Retrieved from http://surgery.med.miami.edu/burns/get-the-factsFirst aid and emergencies. (2011, January 4). WebMD. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/tc/burns-topic-overview