Smoke Inhalation Injury commonly results from the breathing in of harmful gases, vapors, and particulate matter contained in smoke. It can affect people of all ages in virtually any occupation, including manufacturing, industrial, construction, oil refinery and service business sectors. Smoke Inhalation Injury can also result from residential building fires caused by defective products, water heater fires, gas explosions and electrical fires. Victims or firefighters caught in structural fires are most likely to suffer from the harmful effects of smoke inhalation.

People who are trapped in fires may suffer from smoke inhalation alone, or become injured with skin burns as well. The incidence of injury related to smoke inhalation, however, increases with the percentage of total body surface area burned. Smoke Inhalation Injury is not easily detectable; the damage is serious and results in many fire related deaths each year. Children under age 11 and adults over age 70 are those individuals that are most vulnerable to the effects of smoke inhalation.

Indications of inhalation injury usually appears within 2-48 hours after the burn occurred. Indications may include:

• The patient faints
• Fire or smoke present in a closed area
• Evidence of respiratory distress or upper airway obstruction
• Soot around the mouth or nose?
• Nasal hairs, eyebrows, eyelashes have been singed
• Burns around the face or neck