Recognizing burn severity.
Burn depth and size determine the right treatment. Recognizing the signs early leads to faster care and better healing outcomes.
Common causes.
Understanding the type of burn guides the right treatment approach and helps identify hidden injuries.
- ✓ Thermal burns — fire, scalds, hot surfaces
- ✓ Chemical burns — acids, alkalis, industrial agents
- ✓ Electrical injury — household or industrial current
- ✓ Radiation & UV burns — sunburn, radiation therapy
- ✓ Friction burns — road rash, rope burn
- ✓ Lightning strike
- ✓ Smoke inhalation — airway and lung injury
Don't wait. Come now if…
- ▸Burns larger than 3 inches or covering more than a small area
- ▸Burns to face, hands, feet, genitals, or over joints
- ▸Third-degree burns — charred, white, or leathery skin
- ▸Any chemical or electrical burn — even with minimal visible injury
- ▸Burns in children or elderly patients
- ▸Possible smoke inhalation — hoarse voice, cough, difficulty breathing
Not sure? Call us.
Our nurses can help you decide.
Treatments we offer.
Our Fort Worth ER is fully equipped to evaluate and treat all types of burns 24/7 — from minor to severe.
Wound cleaning & debridement
Thorough irrigation, removal of dead tissue and foreign material to prevent infection and promote healing.
IV pain control
Oral and intravenous analgesics including opioids when indicated — burn pain is managed aggressively.
Specialized burn dressings
Non-adherent, antimicrobial burn dressings applied to protect the wound, reduce pain, and support healing.
Tetanus prophylaxis
Tetanus update administered with most burns as standard care — particularly important for deep or contaminated wounds.
Burn-center coordination
Direct transfer coordination to a regional burn center for severe burns requiring grafting or intensive care.
Cardiac monitoring for electrical burns
EKG and continuous cardiac monitoring — electrical injuries can cause arrhythmias even with minor skin burns.
Why ER Of Fort Worth for burns.
Average wait under 10 min
You are brought back quickly — serious burns and airway concerns are triaged immediately without delay.
Board-certified ER physicians
Every patient is evaluated by an emergency-medicine-trained physician, 24/7. Never a mid-level alone.
On-site imaging & labs
CT, X-ray and full lab — evaluating smoke inhalation, electrical injury, and systemic burns in one visit.
All major insurance
BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Medicare, Tricare and more. See full list →
Frequently asked questions.
How do I treat a minor burn at home?
Run cool (not cold) water over the burn for 10–20 minutes — never use ice, butter, or toothpaste. Cover loosely with a clean bandage. Seek ER care for anything beyond mild redness, any blistering, or burns on sensitive areas.
When does a burn need an ER?
Come to the ER for any burn with blistering larger than a quarter, burns on the face, hands, feet, or genitals, chemical or electrical burns, third-degree burns, or any burn in a child. When in doubt, come in — it's always better to be evaluated.
Will I need skin grafts?
Only deep third-degree burns that cannot heal on their own typically require skin grafting. Most second-degree burns heal with proper wound care, dressing changes, and follow-up. We will refer you to a burn specialist if grafting may be needed.
Should I pop a burn blister?
No — blisters form a protective barrier over the healing tissue underneath. Popping them increases infection risk and pain. Let an ER physician evaluate and decide whether debridement is appropriate.
Are electrical burns more serious than they look?
Yes — electrical current travels through the body and can cause internal muscle damage, kidney injury, and cardiac arrhythmias even when skin injury looks minor. All electrical burns need ER evaluation and cardiac monitoring.
Burn care across North Texas.
We serve patients with burn injuries from Fort Worth and surrounding communities including: