For example, in many homes flame cooking, often without guard, is commonplace, and such cooking is done at floor level. These situations encourage burn accidents.
However, burns is largely preventable in most cases and efforts required to prevent burns are simple everyday vigilance which cost little or nothing.
These include:
- Careful handling of fire and fire-causing materials like matches.
- Cooking should be at a higher level where the children cannot easily reach, and the position of the fire should be such that it cannot be easily overturned.
- Cooking should be done with utensils that can be easily handled and not with "hand-less" pots. The handles must be made of materials that are poor conductors of heat. These pots should have reasonably stable covers.
- Houses should be better designed. They should have a kitchen in the leeward direction and be roofed and ceiled with materials that do not burn readily. They must be well-planned and ventilated and overcrowding must not be allowed.
- Epileptics, children and the infirm must not be left alone near open fire.
- Care must be taken in the storage and use of kerosene, gas and petrol (especially during fuel scarcity). They should be stored away from residential areas and valuables.
- Hot cooking stoves must be cool before refilling. This precaution should also be observed with generators and other fuel using household gadgets.
- Petrol should not be stored in the house and no open flame should be present when petrol and such inflammable fluids are exposed as in petrol filling stations. Torch light is much preferred if such filling is done at night in areas where there is no electricity.
- Matches must not be used to look for gas leaks as explosions may result.
- Matches must not be carelessly left where children can get hold of them.
- When frying pan catches fire, it should be smothered and not pushed under the tap or through open windows.
- Candles must be put out before sleeping and not forgetfully left on or near beds or clothing materials like curtains. Similar careful treatment must be employed for mosquito coils.
- During thunder storms, you must not stand under tall trees in open places - they must stay indoors.
- Learn how to use fire extinguishers and make the commitment of buying a functional one, both for you car(s) and house(s).
- When in cinemas, halls and other places of entertainment where large numbers of people may congregate, note or ask for the emergency escape routes. In case of fire outbreak, you'll be glad you did.
- In industries, it is usually the responsibility of industrial safety officer to see that standard procedures are adhered to and preventive measures undertaken. However, your safety should be your personal responsibility, participate in fire drills and learn what to do in case of a major fire outbreak.
- Burns have certainly assumed epidemic proportions and strict adherence to these rules will lessen this hazard.
- Propaganda to spread knowledge of how to prevent burns should take place as part of health education programs on radio and television.
In some countries, children's interest in this problem is stimulated by organizing quiy and competitions on fire prevention among school children.
Furthermore, the formation of societies for the prevention of burn will go a long way in spreading the knowledge of prevention and the problems of treatment of burns.
Such societies should include not only doctors, nurses and industrialists, but anyone concerned about the prevalence and prevention of burns.
Burn injuries are very devastating, protect yourself and your loved ones.
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