With the official beginning of the fall season nearly upon us, it’s time to turn our attention to the fun seasonal festivals to come, our favorite football teams returning to the gridiron and anticipating the amazing outdoor show we’ll see when the brilliant colors of fall make the Hoosier state look like a technicolor wonderland.
While this time of year offers so much to look forward to, the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health warns of potential dangers if proven safety precautions are not adhered to.
In conjunction with 2023 National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 8-14), the highly skilled doctors and nurses at the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health urge residents of Central Indiana to use caution when starting any outdoor fire and to never use accelerants to fuel them.
Our main goal this time of year is to decrease the number of burn injuries by educating the community about the dangers of open flames. Serious wounds may result from improper and irresponsible use of gasoline, kerosene and other accelerants that can turn a pleasant seasonal bonfire or similar get-together into a potentially disastrous situation. We must remain cognizant around fire pits, grills and patio heaters because negligence may cause serious injuries or even death.
Before doing any kind of burning in the next couple months, be sure you are at least 25 feet away from structures or anything else that can burn before building a fire.
Always choose an open, level location and clear away any dry leaves and sticks, overhanging branches and shrubs.
Never use gasoline, kerosene or any other flammable liquid to start a fire. Instead, use a match or lighter to ignite tinder (small twigs and dry leaves); add larger sticks and pieces of dry wood. Always be sure to keep the fire small and controlled, and never leave it unattended.
Always remember to keep yourself and others from standing too close to any fire, and always have an adult on hand to help keep kids and pets away from it.
Prior to starting an outdoor fire, check local ordinances to see what materials can and cannot be burned in the area. We also suggest following these safety tips:
• Only burn dry material.
• Keep outdoor fires away from buildings, fences, telephone wires and trees.
• Avoid lighting fires on windy or dry days.
• Keep a bucket of water or garden hose nearby.
• Keep children and pets at a safe distance.
• Put out the fire completely with water before leaving it.
Unbeknownst to many, Halloween is also a time of year when accidental burning of property and innocent bystanders may occur.
Dried flowers, crepe paper, cornstalks and decorative skeletons and scarecrows may make your home look festive for fall and Halloween, but these classic decorations can also pose a scary fire risk. The National Fire Protection Association says flammable decorations are the first things to ignite in 900 reported home fires each year; two of every five of these incidents start by a candle.
If a fire becomes out of control or someone sustains an injury from fire, call 911 immediately.
Verified by the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association, the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center hosts nearly 5,000 visits annually with patients from across the country. The Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center is regarded as one of the finest and most progressive burn centers in the United States and is located above the Michael & Susan Smith Emergency Department and Smith Level I Shock Trauma Center at Eskenazi Health. For more information about the unit or burn prevention, please call 317-880-6862.
Nydia Nunez-Estrada, M.D., family medicine specialist with Eskenazi Health Center Forest Manor