Firepit safety
Monday, July 29, 2024
In the summer and fall, it is fun to have cookouts and make s’mores by a firepit.
Plus, the outdoors is a great place to hang out with friends and family.
What we never want to hear or think about is an accident happening with fire. It could happen to anyone, and we want to ensure everyone is safe while having fun.
To prevent a fire-related accident, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends the following tips for practicing fire safety outdoors:
Use chimneys, outdoor fireplaces and firepits at least 10 feet away from your home or anything that can burn.
Watch children closely when a firepit is in use.
Use a metal screen over wood-burning fires to keep sparks from floating out.
Put out fires before you go inside.
Keep matches and lighters out of children’s sight and reach.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends putting out a fire by slowly moving your hose in a zigzag pattern. After wetting the firepit down, take a shovel and move around the wet embers so the water can soak in. Remember to extinguish the fire before going to bed or anytime you leave the fire unattended.
If there happens to be an accident and someone gets burned, immediately tend to that person. The American Red Cross advises removing any clothing or jewelry not stuck to the burn site, then cooling the burn as soon as possible with clean, cool or lukewarm water for 20 minutes, then leaving the burn uncovered.
If emergency medical service is called and delayed or transport is needed, cover the burn loosely with a clean, sterile dressing or plastic wrap if necessary. You should not use ice or ice water to help with a burn, as ice can cause more damage to the skin.
Some of us often hear the expression, “it’s not if, it’s when,” and we always want to be prepared. These tips are a precaution to prevent an accident from happening and ways to treat a burn until medical help arrives.
Call 911 if the accident is severe and you aren’t able to safely transport the victim to the hospital.
