About Burns

What is a Burn Injury?
A burn is an injury to the skin. The skin is the largest organ of the body. among its many jobs, the skin is responsible for:

• Protecting us from invasion of bacteria
• Controlling our body's temperature, cooling it in the summer and warming us through the winter
• Manufacturing vitamin D
• Providing a shell to hold fluids
• Enabling us to feel cold, heat, pain and touch

Burns can be caused by:

• Fire
• Household objects such as irons
• Boiling water
• Chemicals
• Electricity

Depth of Injury
The severity of a burn depends on the agent that caused the burn, the amount of heat and the length of time the skin was exposed to the agent. Burns are usually classified as first, second or third degree. Learn more about the depth of injury of burns.

Burn Treatment
The Burn Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a state-of-the-art burn treatment facility, featuring our team of experienced burn care professionals. Burn treatment at The Burn Center includes surgical, medical and nursing care, as well as rehabilitation therapy for both critical and noncritical burn-injured patients.

Burn Prevention
Our Outreach Coordinator manages a robust program for education high-risk groups about burn prevention. Burn prevention is something people of all ages should know about.

Emergency
If you have suffered a burn injury and would like to be evaluated at The Burn Center, please call 202-877-7347, or go to the emergency room at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. You can also see What to do in an Emergency to learn more about caring for burns.