Students & partiesWe wish you a safe festive season!
Have you ever thought about the burns you could get over the festive season?
Every year, a lot of people get minor but also serious burns while preparing Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinner. Think of the oven dish that was still a little too hot to pick up with bare hands, hot snacks from the deep-fat fryer, the ladle left standing in the pot while cooking, the hot iron you touch by accident,…
In some cases these can be severe burns, requiring extensive rehabilitation, including physiotherapy.
Tradition or danger? We are calling for a clear, general policy in Flanders.
Fireworks are also a frequent cause of accidents over the holidays.
Oscare vzw carried out an in-depth study into the private use of fireworks in Flanders, shedding light on the contradictions between public opinion and local regulations. The study shows that, despite the recognised dangers, fireworks are still deeply rooted in Flemish tradition, with a considerable number of municipalities still allowing people to set them off, whether or not a permit is required.
How can you make sure you get through the festive season without any burns?
In many cases it comes down to a lack of attention, and that can be prevented. In the kitchen, children playing are often a distraction while you cook. But your smartphone is a big culprit too. You can prevent a lot of accidents by sticking to a few simple rules.
Here are some useful tips
A few simple rules while you prepare can prevent a lot of burns.
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Avoid distractions, ignore your smartphone.
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Keep a fire blanket within reach in the kitchen.
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Keep water and sand near the fire pit.
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Never use lighter fluid; use firelighters instead.
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Keep children and pets at a safe distance.
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When moving furniture around, keep an escape route clear.
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Put a sturdy guard in front of an open fire and keep flammable materials away.
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Real candles are cosy, but they can be quite dangerous.
LED candles create a safe atmosphere.
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Set a safe festive table.
Use nice placemats instead of an overhanging tablecloth.
The festive season is all about getting together, enjoying yourself and relaxed dining. Take your time to prepare everything calmly and safely in the kitchen.
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Keep children and pets out of the kitchen.
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Stay vigilant and alert.
Don’t leave your oven or deep-fat fryer unattended.
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Use oven gloves, close the oven and switch it off after use.
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Always turn pan handles inwards.
That way curious children can’t pull the hot contents over themselves.
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Close the deep-fat fryer after use, unplug it and let it cool down in a safe place.
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Always keep a fire blanket within reach in the kitchen.
A pleasant meal starts with a safe festive table.
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Never put hot liquids on the edge of the table.
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Keep your table grill or fondue set well away from children.
Never leave children alone at the table with appliances switched on. Be careful with extension leads. Make sure nobody can trip.
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After the meal, clear away dangerous appliances and put them somewhere safe.
Everything tidied away? Then head outside to enjoy the fireworks.
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Never set off fireworks yourself; go to the organised display in your municipality instead.
That way you avoid burns, fire risks for you and your neighbours, and distress for animals.
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Watching the fireworks from your garden by a cosy fire?
Keep it fire-safe!
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Every type of firework has its own special atmosphere and its own specific risks.
But they can all cause serious burns. We list them below.
You can find a fire blanket in our webshop.
There is NO such thing as safe fireworks!
Sparklers are not toys!
Sparklers are fireworks. They burn slowly and give off coloured sparks. And they are responsible for most accidents involving legal fireworks, mainly because they are seen as children’s fireworks that can be used without adult supervision.
Sparklers look harmless and are sometimes described with the misleading term ‘cold fire’. On bare skin, the flying sparks often feel like nothing more than a quick pinprick. The tiny particles carry little heat energy and cool down quickly after touching the skin. But the combustion at the heart of the flame reaches a high temperature (up to 1100 °C). So there’s nothing cold about it! If used carelessly, that high temperature can cause serious burns to the hands or face and can set clothing on fire.
Party fountain fireworks
You’ve probably seen them: the sparkler fountains that turn any cake or dessert into a show. These fountains are easy to light and burn for about 45 seconds. But they’re far less harmless than you might think.
Firework fountains can not only cause burns, they’re also bad for your health. The substances they release, which land on your cake, contain a wide “cocktail” of heavy metals: highly toxic elements that must never be swallowed under any circumstances!
Donate your fireworks budget to a good cause instead!
Over the festive season, many accidents happen when private individuals set off fireworks.
Every day, Oscare works for people with burns and scars. With your support, we can continue the fight against burns.
Leave fireworks to the professionals and just enjoy the celebrations!
Fireworks on New Year’s Eve are a tradition, but setting them off yourself is risky. Every year we see a lot of ‘firework victims’. Revellers suffer burns, often severe ones, and fires can break out. Fireworks can also be traumatic for animals and pets.
There’s no such thing as safe fireworks. So never buy or use fireworks yourself; leave it to the professionals. Many municipalities organise a fireworks display to ring in the New Year. Enjoy the show, and remember to protect your ears and your children’s ears from the loud bangs and high-pitched whistles.
Sky lanterns: beautiful, but not without risks.
In Asian culture, sky lanterns are said to bring good luck. A sky lantern is a paper lantern that, like a hot-air balloon, works on the principle that warm air rises. The air inside is heated by an open flame hanging underneath. A sky lantern looks beautiful, but releasing one comes with risks.
As well as the fire risk near buildings, trees and other fire hazards, sky lanterns are also dangerous for air traffic. So never release them near an airport. Rescue services can also mistake sky lanterns for distress flares.
First aid for firework injuries
Leave fireworks to the professionals and just enjoy the celebrations!
Most people don’t know what to do when someone is injured by fireworks. Most know that burns need to be cooled for 20 minutes with lukewarm tap water, but what should you do if someone gets fireworks in their eye?
Fireworks in the eye
Is the eye still intact and the pupil round? Then the gunpowder needs to come out. Gently pull the lower eyelid down while the casualty looks up. Rinse the eye with drops of water. Then contact the GP.
Is the eye not intact or is there blood in the pupil? Call 112.
Fingers or hands torn off
Call 112 immediately. Wrap the severed hand or finger in a sterile compress, put everything in a dry plastic bag and place the bag in a container of ice-cold water. Apply pressure to the wound. Give the bag to the ambulance crew: the hospital may be able to reattach the limb.
Burns
Cool the burn with lukewarm water for 10 to 20 minutes. Remove any clothing that isn’t stuck to the wound, and cover the wound with a non-stick dressing.
More information about this campaign: peter.van.rossum@oscare.be