MADISON. Wis. – Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and for many, that means grilling and campfires, but if proper precautions aren’t taken, these same signs of summer can also mean burn injuries.
Many burn injuries can be prevented if people know how to manage fires and properly store accelerants like gasoline, according to Dr. Patrick Shahan, adult trauma medical director, UW Health, and assistant professor of surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
“So many injuries we see result from an accelerant being used on the fire,” he said. “Patients we see often say they can’t believe how fast it happened.”
Shahan has a few important tips for being safe around fire this summer, whether it’s a Memorial Day weekend cookout, backyard campfire or burning brush or leaves:
- Never use gasoline, diesel or kerosene as they can have the same explosiveness as dynamite
- Only burn dry materials
- Before starting a fire, remove explosive items, like paint, aerosol cans or fireworks
- Remove any tripping hazards, like sticks or rocks, that are near the fire area
- Outdoor fires must be away from buildings, fences, overhead wires and trees
- Do not light fires on windy days
- Check burn bans with the local fire department
- Keep children and pets away from fires and grills
- If a person is physically unable to move away from a planned fire, reconsider burning or appoint someone who is more physically fit to complete the job
- Have a bucket of water or garden hose at the ready
- Put the fire completely out before leaving it, and never leave a fire unattended
