A record number of burns from accidents around campfires has authorities urging campers to exercise greater caution around fires.
Alfred Health – which provides a comprehensive range of healthcare services in Victoria through its three hospital campuses – says the number of patients admitted to the Victorian Adult Burns service because of campfire mishaps hit a record high of 46 in 2021.
Alfred burns surgeon Dane Holden said it was a major concern.
“Despite the lockdowns we had last year, we still had a record number of people come through for these really nasty, yet entirely preventable injuries,” Dr Holden said. “These types of burns also tend to be much deeper than the average burn because they’re from direct impact with a flame, meaning surgical intervention in the form of painful skin grafts is often required.”
Campfires should never be left unattended. PIC: Pexels
He said they typically, result in longer hospital stays and impact the upper body, face and neck.
In the six-year period from Jan 2016 to Dec 2021 there were 215 burns injuries – all of which followed a similar pattern.
“Of those cases 118 involved accelerant use – people pouring flammables over a fire. Significantly, 71 cases had petrol involvement and 13 Aerosol cans,” Dr Holden said. “Further to that 107 involved alcohol and/drugs – which is a recipe for disaster around fire.”
CFA Acting Chief Office Garry Cook said accelerants should never be used to light fires.
“The horrible injuries seen in the Alfred Burns Unit are evidence of what can happen when things go wrong around a campfire,” said A/CO Cook. “Petrol or other accelerants should never be used to light a fire, while aerosol cans and flammable or potentially explosive material should also be kept well away from the fire.”
And he said campfires should be extinguished with water not with dirt, as embers can still be hot underneath dirt which can lead to people unknowingly stepping on hot coals.
Send them all back to a Scout Camp to learn basic safety about lighting and using a campfire..!
Long past time for a blanket ban on camp fires. Ripped out trees and bushes, ugly burnt ground, half charred rubbish, hazardous stone fire rings, and fire danger season getting longer and longer.
If you need the ambience, then use a fake propane campfire
I too am sick of seeing broken glass, aluminium and bottle tops in camp fires but, I don’t think it’s right to ban all the responsible people just because there are a few idiots getting around.
Agree with you wholeheartedly Tony. Also ban them in caravan parks! Sick of having the smell of smoke in the van and having to close windows etc together with splinters of wood all over your site from previous tenants.
Unbelievable…..isn’t it just typical of a lot of dah people these days.
Now hears a problem which could be prevented by making all campers do a fire management Coarse and issue them with a license as is being touted for towing a caravan , which seems to be gathering momentum.