Burn injuries caused by chip-pan fires: the Edinburgh experience

Tandir burns: a severe cause of burns in rural Turkey

Tandir is the name given to an oven used for baking bread in the eastern and south-eastern part of Anatolia. Tandir burn is a special kind of burns in which primarily women and small children fall in it and have deep extensive burns (TBSA %). The records of 60 patients with tandir burn who were treated in our Burn Center from September 1999 to January 2006 were reviewed. The patients consisted of 9.2% of all burned patients. The mean age was 17.10 years (1-60 years) and 61.50% of the patients were female. The mean total body surface area (TBSA) burned was 21.09% (6-58) and 88% of the patients had third-degree burns. Eight of the patients underwent amputation of an extremity, 10 had fasciotomies, and 25 partial thickness skin grafts. The mean hospitalization period was 31.64 days (3-73 days). Fifteen patients (25%) died. Tandir burn is a severe kind of burn with a higher morbidity and mortality.

Flame burn admissions and fire fatalities in Scotland with particular reference to the Strathclyde (Glasgow) region, and their prevention

Scotland has the highest rate of fire fatalities in the UK. Nearly 50% of the population and fire deaths in Scotland are in the Strathclyde region. The data from the burns unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary were studied to find the number of admissions due to flame burns and see how it compared with the fire deaths. During 1981-1993, amongst 2771 admissions to the burns unit, 1181 (43%) were due to flame burns and out of these flame burn victims, 69% were adults, 16% elderly and 15% children. The distribution of cases according to the total body surface area (TBSA) involvement was 866 (73%) with 1-15%, 165 (14%) with 16-30%, and 150 (13%) with > or =31% TBSA burns. The annual number of flame burn admissions declined during 1981-1993. In the Glasgow region 50% of the domestic fires leading to non-fatal burns or to death were started by misuse of smoking materials. Chip pan fires were responsible for 8% of admissions to the burns unit. The annual number of fire fatalities when reviewed for a longer period 1973-1995 also showed a decreasing trend. Further educational and legislative measures to prevent flame burns are discussed.

Kerosene stove as a cause of burns admitted to the Ain Shams burn unit

Kerosene stoves are in widespread use for cooking and warming water in underprivileged areas in Cairo. These stoves are dangerous and lack safety measures; they are often a cause of fire incidents and burn injuries. During the period from May 1995 to December 1996 the number of patients who presented to the burn unit of Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt was 759, of whom 304 (40%) sustained the injury as a consequence of kerosene stove fires. Efforts to inform the public about the danger of these stoves are recommended to minimize the incidence, morbidity, mortality and cost of this relatively common and preventable type of injury.

Landmarks in burn prevention

The objective of this paper is to highlight landmarks in burn prevention. Novel strategies in the areas of law and regulation, environmental and consumer product design, and educational programs are identified and discussed. Notwithstanding marked reductions in burn morbidity and mortality, especially in economically developed countries, burn injuries remain an important public health concern throughout the world. More, and more effective, burn prevention programs coupled with renewed efforts to reduce the social and environmental correlates of burn injuries (poverty, overcrowding, family stress, and educational deficits) are needed to further reduce burn incidence and its long-term sequelae.

Alcohol and house fire fatalities in Scotland, 1980-1990

The association between house fire fatalities and high blood-alcohol concentrations has been recognized as a particular problem in Scotland. Alcohol intoxication increases the risk of the outbreak of fire and decreases the intoxicated individual's ability to effect an escape. This survey investigates the reported blood-alcohol concentrations from all Scottish fire fatalities during the 11-year period 1980-90 and analyses the data by age, sex, year and geographical location. Alcohol intoxication in fires is shown both to be a national problem and one relevant to females as well as males. Fire prevention campaigns must continue to emphasize the risk of consuming excessive quantities of alcohol in the home whilst parallel efforts to reduce the objective risk should be encouraged.