BRITISH COLUMBIA BURN FACTS

BRITISH COLUMBIA BURN FACTS

Did you Know that:

Every hour a fire causing damage occurs in British Columbia
Every day someone is injured by fire in British Columbia
Fire causes approximately $450,000 damage each day in BC
Fire kills in British Columbia every 8 days
45% of burn injuries in British Columbia are caused by hot liquids or vapors
40% of burn injuries in British Columbia are caused by fires
43% of persons burned in fires are between 20 to 44 years of age
Persons aged 1 to 14 years have the second highest incidence of burn injuries form fire
The majority of fire injuries occur in private dwellings
The ignition of flammable liquids and substances such as cooking fats and gasoline are major causes of burn injuries from fire.
Having a working smoke alarm in your home cuts your risk of dying in a fire by half

PREVENT BURN INJURIES!

In the kitchen Never leave cooking foods unattended - oil or fat can ignite. If you are faced with a grease fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan and turn off the heat source Always turn pot handles to the back of the stove when cooking to avoid pots being pulled or knocked off. Never leave hot liquids or food unattended or at the edge of a table or counter where they may be pulled down by a child Avoid wearing loose fitting sleeves when cooking that might contact stove burners and ignite Matches and Lighters Many fatal burns to children are the result of their playing with fire. Teach children that matches and lighters are tools not toys. Use child-resistant lighters and store all matches and lighters out of the reach of the children Cool a Burn If someone is burned, cool the burned area immediately with cool water for 10-15 minutes.Never put ice, very cold water, butter or lotions on a burn. If the burn blisters or chars, seek medical help immediately
	Water Temperature When running a bath always run the cold water into the tub first, then add hot water to the desired temperature. Before placing a child in the bath tub, test the temperature of the water by moving your hand through the water for several seconds. If the water feels hot add cold water until the temperature feels comfortable

	Stop Drop and Roll If your cloths catch on fire- Stop immediately, Drop to the floor, cover your face with your hands and Roll over and over to extinguish the flames

HALLOWEEN

FIRE SAFETY

COSTUMES

Purchase Halloween costumes that are flame resistant. Avoid costumes with long trailing pieces that may easily ignite. When constructing a costume for children, always keep fire safety in mind.

Children should not carry candles as a light source or as part of a costume. Rather, provide your child with a flashlight that can safely light the way.

Educate children to stay clear of open flames and other heat sources. Ensure that children know how to perform STOP, DROP and ROLL should their cloths catch on fire. (If your clothes catch on fire: STOP immediately, DROP to the ground, and ROLL over and over to extinguish the flames)

DECORATIONS

Avoid decorating with candles or torch lights.

Ensure that combustible Halloween decorations such as crepe paper, cornstalks and dried flowers are kept well away from sources of heat. Keep all exits clear or decorating materials.

Purchase and install working smoke alarms, and practice home escape plans. Ensure that all children in your home know the location of the exits, should an emergency situation arise.

FIREWORKS

Celebrate wisely this Halloween. Teach children that fireworks are not toys and that if they find fireworks, they should TELL an adult. It is unsafe for children to pick up fireworks and bring them to an adult.

The use of fireworks by untrained individuals may result in unnecessary injuries. Safely enjoy fireworks displays put on by trained individuals.