<unk> s can be caused by a variety of ways such as touching or grasping<unk> ly live objects, short-circuiting, inserting fingers into<unk>  sockets, and falling into electrified water. Lightning strikes are also a cause of<unk> s, but this is a less common event. With the advances in technology,<unk>  injuries are becoming more common and are the fourth leading cause of work-related traumatic death. One third of all<unk>  traumas and most high-voltage injuries are job related, and more than 50% of these injuries result from power line contact.<unk> s can be classified into six categories, and any combination of these categories may be present on an<unk>  victim: *Low-voltage burn. A burn produced by contact with a power source of 500 volts or less is classified as a low-voltage burn. The current at this voltage is not enough to cause tissue damage along its path except at the contact site. This type of burn may be mild, superficial, or severe depending on the contact time. *High voltage burn. This burn is very severe as the victim makes direct contact with the high voltage supply and the damage runs its course throughout the body. Exterior injuries are misleading as most of the damage occurs underneath the skin. In this case, subdermal tissues are severely damaged. *Arc burn. This type of burn occurs when<unk>  energy passes from a high-resistance area to a low-resistance area. No contact is required with an arc burn as the electricity ionizes air particles to complete the circuit. The heat generated can be as high as hotter than the boiling points of several metals and certainly hot enough to ignite a victim's clothing. A form of explosion dissipates excess energy from the arc. In addition, a high-current arc can produce a pressure wave blast in excess of of pressure. This can throw the victim and cause severe injuries. *Flash burn. Flash burns are caused by<unk>  arcs that pass over the skin. The intense heat and light of an arc flash can cause severe burns in a fraction of a second. Although the burns can cover a large area of skin, they are largely superficial and the tissues beneath the skin are generally undamaged and unaffected. This typically occurs when the frequency of the AC current is significantly higher than the 50 or 60 Hz used in land-based<unk>  distribution systems (such as in aircraft). *Flame burn. Flame burns are caused by contact to objects that were ignited by an<unk>  source when associated with flash and arc burns. * Oral burns. This is caused by biting or sucking on<unk>  cords, and it most commonly happens to children. Electric current typically passes from one side of the child's mouth to the other, possibly causing deformity.
Electrical burn
Chemical burn
Thermal burn
Powder burn
Flash burn
Friction burn
Hydrofluoric acid burn
Radiation burn