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According to the American Burn Association, each year in the United States, 1.1 million people sustain burn injuries that require medical attention. Approximately 45,000 of these injuries are so severe as to require hospitalization. Each year, approximately 4,500 people die as a result of a burn injury and as many as 10,000 people die each year of infection while hospitalized for a burn-related injury. Skin is the largest organ in the body, and it serves as a protective barrier against bacteria and evaporative water loss from the underlying tissues. Dehydration, infection, hypothermia and damage to internal organs are frequent short-term complications resulting from a burn injury. Long term complications include severe emotional and physical scarring. |
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