5 Tips To Prevent Burn Injuries

There’s nothing quite like a summer bonfire – the fire crackle, gooey s’mores and laughs shared with family and friends.

But did you know that some of our favorite summer activities like grilling, fireworks and bonfires can also pose a significant burn risk for your family? Here are five fire safety do’s and don’ts for the summer to keep everyone safe and burn-free.

1. Make A Fire Safety Plan

Whether you’re hosting a grill-tastic celebration or building an epic bonfire, you need to start with a plan. Our Franciscan Health experts recommend the following tips for making a fire safety plan:

• Wear long sleeves when grilling or starting a bonfire
• Create a wide circle around the grill or bonfire – at least three feet
• Use the proper gear near a fire – long-handled grill tools and a long, sturdy stick for bonfires
• Know the location of the closest fire extinguisher

It’s critical to check the area before you get your fire started. For grilling, ensure you’re away from siding, roofing or patio overhangs. For bonfires, check out any surrounding trees, bushes and other debris that could catch fire.

Weather is also a factor – a light breeze can turn into a gusty wind, carrying embers through the air. Check the weather forecast before lighting a fire to avoid a potentially dangerous situation.  

2. Watch For Children

From toddlers to teens, fire can be dangerous for everyone. Keep a close eye on children of all ages and don’t let children “help” while grilling or managing the bonfire. If you’re making smores – a bonfire favorite! – use telescoping marshmallow roasting sticks to keep your loved ones a safe distance from the fire.

3. Leave The Fireworks To The Experts 

It can be tempting to create your own fireworks display, but it’s best to leave the big bangs to the professionals. If you’re going to do at-home sparklers, have an adult assist children and stay away from cars, people, trees and bushes.

4. Have A Burn Plan

Accidents can happen anywhere – even with the best-laid plans. If someone has a burn, treat it immediately to reduce pain and inflammation. You can do this by following steps:

• Cover the burn in cool water for three to five minutes
• Loosely wrap the burn with a clean, dry cloth
• Get medical attention if the burn is larger than a few inches, blistering or weeping

For minor burns, at-home treatment will suffice – but if the burn seems significant, head to urgent care to get it evaluated.

5. Have Fun – And Be Safe

Summertime is full of fun get-togethers, and with some preparation, you can stay safe. Make sure to keep an eye on little ones, remind family and guests that you can have fun around a campfire, but it’s not the place to horse around. You can stay fire-safe and burn-free this summer while having fun.

Franciscan Health offers in-person and virtual urgent care visits to meet all your summer healthcare needs, including burn evaluation and treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions: Burns

What should I do for a burn?

If you have a burn, run cold water over the burn to ease the pain. Then gently dry the area and keep it loosely covered. If the burn begins to blister, changes color or seems infected, get medical treatment.

Can putting butter on a burn help?

Any greasy substance, including butter, on a burn keeps heat in the body, which can make it hard for a burn to heal or be properly treated.