A
5200 Harry Hines Blvd.
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Posted: 6/19/2017
Caution campers to ‘cool the coals’
Temperatures are at or near the century mark. The days are sweltering and the nights aren’t much better. About the only thing that offers relief is a cooling dip in a pond or lake. Then as the sun sets on the western horizon, the glow of flickering embers from area campfires begins to illuminate the night sky. Welcome to summer in Texas.
Although camping is a welcome adventure for family and friends, experts with Parkland Memorial Hospital’s Regional Burn Center say it’s important to talk to children about campfire safety before the trip begins.
“Getting out of the house and sleeping under the stars can be fun,” said Stephanie Campbell, RN, Parkland’s Burn Program Manager. “But in the blink of an eye an accident can happen that could change your life forever.”
That’s what happened in 2007 to Lisa Johnson.
Johnson, her husband and then 6-year old son and his friend were on a weekend camping trip when she tripped over the fire grate while carrying an armload of firewood. Unable to regain her balance by stepping over the grate due to its 12-inch height, she fell on her left hand and side into the fire. She spent 26 days in Parkland’s burn center.
Sarah Conner was burned in 2011 when a cauldron of steaming hot baked beans tumbled into her lap during a camping trip. To make matters worse she was in a remote campsite that made it virtually impossible for EMS workers to locate her.
“No one could have predicted what happened to Lisa and Sarah,” Campbell said. “These were tragic accidents. But they turned their experiences into something positive by talking about their injuries and giving healthcare providers and others valuable insight from the burn survivors’ perspective.”
For anyone planning a camping trip, the American Burn Association (ABA) offers some campfire safety do’s and don’ts:
• Do build your fire in a designated ring/pit at least 15 feet away (preferably downwind from tent, brush and other flammable objects)
• Do keep the fire small and manageable, with water nearby
• Do completely extinguish the fire and coals by pouring water, stirring, and pouring water again until it is cool. Never bury a fire.
• Don’t leave a fire unattended – ever
• Don’t throw anything other than wood into the fire
• Don’t build a fire if conditions are dry or if forest fire danger is high
• Don’t assume the fire pit is safe when arriving at a campsite. Coals from previous campers can still be hot.
“Seventy percent of campfire burns are caused by embers rather than flames,” Campbell said, noting that fire pits retain heat up to 12 hours after being extinguished. “It can be hot enough to cause a severe burn. I always encourage people to be extra careful around a campfire – even if you don’t see a flame or fire.”
Should a burn injury occur, the ABA recommends a person “stop, drop and roll” if clothing catches fire. Cool the burn with cool (not cold) water, remove all clothing and jewelry from the injured area and cover the area with a clean dry sheet or bandages. And, seek immediate medical attention.
“Accidents can happen, but if we take action to safeguard against them, we can reduce the risk,” Campbell said.
Established in 1962, the Parkland Burn Center is the second largest civilian burn center in the nation, providing care to more than 2,200 patients annually. Serving North Texas and surrounding areas, this comprehensive burn center is one of only 62 verified burn centers in North America and the only one in North Texas, and provides all services from emergency treatment to intensive care to rehabilitation and outpatient follow-up care.
For more information on services available at Parkland, please visit www.parklandhospital.com