The fall season is here and for many it’s an exciting time to enjoy sitting around bonfires with family and friends, taking in the wonderful seasonal aroma of burning leaves and many other outdoor activities. It’s also a time to be aware that many enjoyable pastimes of the season can result in dangerous fires brought on by the careless use of outdoor fire pits, grills and patio heaters.
Doctors with the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health encourage everyone to take the utmost caution in pursuing traditional fall activities, particularly the one’s where fire is used for any reason.
If you’re considering lighting any kind of fire, it’s wise to ensure that outdoor fires are legal in your community. If outdoor fires are permitted, only build them where they can be easily contained.
While starting your fire it’s absolutely essential to resist the temptation to use accelerants such as lighter fluid to grow your fire in a hurry because they can be extremely unsafe. Not only can accelerants release toxic fumes, but they can start an explosion or cause your fire to grow too quickly and get out of control.
Before heading out to the fire pit or bonfire, check for restrictions or warnings issued by your local government’s air quality department. When pollution levels are high, they may issue “no burn” restrictions to limit particulate matter and carbon dioxide levels.
Safety is always the chief concern this time of year and we suggest that you never leave any fire unattended because a sudden slight gust of wind may blow sparks onto surrounding leaves, dry grass or brush, and the result could be a catastrophe causing personal injuries and damage to valuable property. To prevent that from happening it’s always wise to have a garden hose and buckets of water nearby whenever you’re dealing with fire.
Anytime you’re finished with an outdoor fire, be sure to douse the flames with plenty of water and stir the ashes to make sure the fire is completely out, and you’ll want to continue adding water until everything is cold to the touch. Another helpful safety tip is when using a patio heater, always remember to turn it off when you go inside.
It’s also important to do everything you can to keep your roof clear of leaves and other debris, which will go a long way towards preventing sparks, power lines or lightning from starting a house fire.
While outside enjoying fall activities, remember that the COVID-19 virus is still a danger and we recommend everyone observe social distancing and remain six feet apart from other people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that’s especially true for older adults who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, which means they may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they might even die. The risk increases for people in their 50s and even more so for those in their 60s, 70s and 80s. People 85 and older are the most likely to get very sick.
The Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center wants to decrease the number of burn injuries this fall by educating the community and encouraging everyone to be extra careful this time of year. The burn center has already treated patients burned while involved in multiple activities, such as improperly lighting fireworks, this past summer. For more information on the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health visit: https://www.eskenazihealth.edu/health-services/burn-center
Nydia Nunez-Estrada M.D.
Family Medicine Specialist at Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington