Burn Injury Resource Center

Injuries from fire can be devastating injuries. This method is used to reduce the injuries caused by fire by extinguishing fire on a person's clothes. You should react quickly when your clothes catches fire, there is no time to delay. You should do the following steps:

Stop: avoid running and stand still.

Drop: drop to the ground in a prone position (laying flat), cover your face with your hands to avoid injury to your face.

Roll: roll on the floor to extinguish the fire; don't stop until the fire has been extinguished, this will smoother the flames.

Children should be taught the stop, drop and roll method and this should be practiced with them.

Other techniques can be used with this method like fire extinguisher to boost its effectiveness.

Call 911 as soon as you can for further assistance.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

Flammable and combustible liquids are liquids that can burn. These liquids give off vapors that mix with air and can catch on fire from a source of ignition causing serious burns. The vapor is actually what burns, not the liquid. The lowest temperature at which the liquid gives off enough vapor to be ignited is called the flashpoint.

Flammable and combustible liquids include gasoline, kerosene, paint and paint thinners, solvents, cleaners, polishes and others. There are certain rules to be followed to avoid serious burns from flammable liquids which include:

• Read the manufacturer's label on the flammable liquid container before its use.
• Flammable liquids should be kept away from open flames and sparks.
• Always store flammable liquids in the original manufacturer's containers or approved cans.
• Flammable liquids should not be used near open flame or any source of heat.
• Always use flammable liquids in a well ventilated area.
• You should never smoke around flammable liquids.
• Empty containers that contained flammable liquids should be properly discarded.
• Avoid spilling flammable liquids on you, if this should occur; rinse the area thoroughly as soon as possible.
• Don't use flammable liquids for purposes for which they are not intended.
• Be aware that cell phones should not be used while pumping gas (the cell phone could ignite the fumes).
• Never fill a gas can in the bed of a pick up truck (the fumes will be contained within the bed of the truck).

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

The skin is the largest organ in the body. The skin has many important functions (see the skin). Skin can be donated for, and used by Patients with severe burns and patients with other injuries. The donated skin is transplanted to these patients which helps to decrease the pain, acts as a barrier to prevent infection, prevents body fluid loss and helps in body temperature regulation. The donated skin can be use as a temporary treatment for patients with severe burns and as the patient's own skin heals, it can be grafted on the burned area as a permanent covering.

The person will make the decision to donate his or her skin in the same manner as other organ donations. This decision will not effect the medical care given to that person before his/her death. Every attempt will be made to save the person's life and the skin will only be taken after the death of the person.

Donating skin will not cause body disfigurement; the skin harvest is composed of a very thin layer of skin taken from the abdomen, back and legs. The person who donates the skin (the donor) should not have any transmissible disease such as hepatitis.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

Tar is used in paving and in the commercial roofing industry. Tar is heated and used while it's hot. Hot tar can cause serious burn injuries. For example hot tar may come in contact with the skin through splashing or spilling. When it comes in contact with the skin, hot tar solidifies and sticks to the skin leading to serious injury. Workers carrying hot tar containers on a ladder are susceptible to falling the ladder in unsafe conditions leading to burns and other serious injuries. Freshly applied hot tar is slippery and as it cools down, it becomes sticky. This can cause a tripping or slipping hazards. There is also the risk of fire. Hot lugger and kettle are used to prepare hot tar. Vapors created from use of this equipment are flammable. Great care should be taken to avoid contact with an ignition source.

If there is a burn injury from a hot tar, cool the burned area with water, cover it with a dry clean sheet and seek medical attention (see chemical burns). Avoid removing the tar with a chemical substance. Personnel should be trained on how to apply first aid measures to injured workers. If a worker slips and falls or there is a suspicion of other injuries beside burn injury avoid moving the person (assuming they are not lying on the newly paved hot tar) as extra movement may lead to additional injury. In case of eye injury, flush the eye with cool water and seek medical attention.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

The sun plays an important role in the manufacture of vitamin D. The sun has ultraviolet rays which can be harmful to the skin. There are three types of rays, Ultraviolet A, B and C. Ultraviolet A rays penetrate the skin more deeply than ultraviolet B. it's responsible for wrinkles, skin tanning and premature aging of the skin. Ultraviolet B rays affect the epidermis which is the outer layer of the skin and is responsible for sunburns. Ultraviolet C rays are absorbed almost completely by the ozone layer. Both A and B rays can harm the skin and can cause skin cancer.

Wrinkles:

The skin is held together in a smooth and a firm way by a protein called collagen. UVA rays damage collagen leading to the formation of wrinkles.

Tanning:

People often believe that tanning is healthy but it is not. A tan actually means that damage has been done to the skin. Melanocytes are the cells producing melanin which is the pigment responsible for skin color. When the skin is exposed to the sun the melanocytes produce more melanin to protect the skin and this pigment creates the tan.

Sunburns: (see sunburns part I, part II).

Skin cancer: (see Basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell and melanoma).

Prevention:

• Decrease sun exposure and avoid exposure to sun during peak hours (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.)
• Wear protective clothes such as long sleeved shirts, long pants, a hat and sunglasses.
• Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 or greater. Apply the sunscreen to all exposed areas 30 minutes before sun exposure, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after sweating or swimming.
• Check your skin for any lesion that recently appeared or any changes in pre existing lesions

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This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

First degree burns part I, II are minor burns and can be treated with home remedies. Second degree burns and third degree burns part I, II. need medical attention.

The first step is washing the burned area with cool water. Avoid using ice as it can cause further damage.

Home remedies include:

• Applying Aloe Vera gel on the burned area. Either from the plant itself or using over the counter products.
• Applying Vitamin E creams or oils on the burned area.
• Applying egg white to the burned area.
• Applying honey to the burned area.
• Applying St. John's wort oil to the burned area.
• Applying toothpaste on the burned area.
• Applying a cut potato slice on the burned area.
• Applying a cut onion slice on the burned area.
• Applying mustard on the burned area.
• Applying yogurt on the burned area.
• Applying soybean paste on the burned area.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

Boiling water steam can cause steam burns. The burn can vary in severity from a minor to a major burn. It can be a first degree burn part I, II, second degree or a third degree burn part I, II. The temperature of boiling water steam is more than 100 degree centigrade (which is 212 degrees Fahrenheit) and pure steam is invisible, therefore the person can be in danger of a steam burn without being aware of it. Steam can be inhaled leading to airway burns that can have serious consequences and can end in the patient's death.

When a patient has a steam burn, it's important to assess the severity of the burn, a superficial steam burn can be treated at home see first degree burns part I, II. Major burns need medical attention.

Avoid the following:

• Don't over cool the burned area as it may lead to shock.
• Don't use ice to cool the burned area as it may cause further damage.
• Don't use bandages that are adhesive as it may adhere to the burned skin.
• Don't apply butter or oils to the burned area as it interferes with the healing process and can make the burn worse.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

Types of malignant melanoma:

• Superficial spreading melanoma: this type appears as a brown or a black lesion, flat or slightly raised that may show irregular borders and color variegation. It's the most common type of melanoma in whites and most often appears on the upper arm and back in men and on the legs in women. This type spread initially through the epidermis which is the top layer of the skin, it can spread to the other layers of the skin (dermis and subcutaneous tissue) or even other parts of the body if it's not diagnosed and treated early.
• Nodular melanoma: this type of melanoma spreads quickly therefore it's the most aggressive type; it appears as a rapidly enlarging lump that is usually black in color. It may ulcerate and present as a non healing skin ulcer.
• Acral lentiginous melanoma: this type usually appears as a black or brown macule that has an irregular border on the palm of the hand, sole of the feet and under the nail. It's the most common among darker skin color people.
• Mucosal melanoma: this type may appear on the eyelid, lips, esophagus, penis, vulva, and anus.
• Lentigo maligna melanoma: this type appears on sun damaged skin of the face, neck and scalp as an irregular shaped, pigmented, flat lesion.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is made by examining a new appearing lesion or a change in a previously present lesion, when there is a suspicion, a biopsy will be taken and examined under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis. Other diagnostic test maybe needed to diagnose how far the disease has spread such as US, CT scan, MRI and others.

Treatment:

Treatment is usually done by surgically removing the melanoma with removing normal skin surrounding the lesion. Skin graft maybe needed when the lesion is large. In advanced cases lymph nodes maybe removed if melanoma has spread to lymph nodes. Other modalities of treatment maybe used depending on the stage of the disease which includes Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. They may be used in combination depending on the stage of the disease.

Regular follow up is important after treatment to make sure that the tumor hasn't returned back as malignant melanoma has a risk of recurrence.

Prevention:

• Wearing protective clothes help to protect the skin from the effect of sunlight and avoid going out during peak hours from 10am-4pm.
• Using broad spectrum sunscreens with a sun protection factor of at least 15 or more. Wearing sunscreen 30 minutes before sunlight exposure and on all exposed body areas. Reapply frequently.
• Tanning beds avoidance.
• Regularly check your skin for any abnormal skin lesion and any change in previously present lesion, notify your doctor of any skin suspicious lesion.
• Have your doctor examine your skin regularly.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

Malignant melanoma is a serious skin cancer affecting the melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells located at the base of the epidermis (see the skin). They are responsible for producing Melanin which is a protein that gives color to the skin, eyes and hair. In the skin melanin pigment acts as an umbrella that absorbs and protects the skin from the effect of ultraviolet radiation. The more melanin produced by melanocyes, the darker the skin.

Malignant melanoma known also as melanoma happens when melanocytes begin to grow in an uncontrollable way. It can happen at all ages but it's more common in young adults and the risk increases with age. Although anyone can be affected, there are certain risk factors that increase the risk of having malignant melanoma and these risk factors include:

• Fair colored skin.
• Excessive sunlight exposure.
• History of sunburn.
• Previous history of melanoma or other skin cancer squamous or basal cell carcinoma.
• Family history of melanoma.
• Presence of large number of moles (more than 50).
• Presence of abnormal moles (called a typical or dysplastic mole).
• People with low immune system such as those with Aids or having organ transplantation.
• People with Xeroderma pigmentosa witch is a genetic disorder.

Signs and symptoms:

Malignant melanoma can appear in normal looking skin or can be appear in a previously present mole or freckle. Warning Changes in a mole or a freckle include:

The ABCDE guide:

• A for asymmetry in shape where one half is different from the other half.
• B for border, change in border may include notched or poorly defined border.
• C for color, uneven distribution of color or more than one color in a lesion is a warning sign.
• D for diameter, lesions with a diameter greater than 6 millimeter is a warning sign.
• E for evolving (changing, enlarging).

Other warning changes may include:

• Itching.
• Change in consistency eg, become hard.
• Change in sensation.
• Bleeding.
• Oozing.
• Pigment spread to the surrounding skin.

Malignant melanoma can appear anywhere in the body where melanocytes are present, some appear on sun exposed areas such as the face and hands while others can appear in places such as under the nail (subungual), between the toes, palms and soles, the eye, genitals and mouth. Primary tumors are more common on the back in men and on the lower extremity in women.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

Also called Skin cancer-basal cell, Rodent ulcer

It is the most common type of skin cancer. It originates from the basal cells of the epidermis (see the skin). It occurs more often in men than women and used to be more common after the age of 40 but it is more and more being seen in younger people. Ultraviolet light exposure from sun or other source is the main predisposing factor for developing BCC and that is why the majority occur on sun exposed areas such as face, neck and ear but they can also occur in areas which are not exposed to sunlight.

Certain risk factors increase the risk of basal cell carcinoma which may include:

• People with chronic exposure to sunlight.
• People with fair skin.
• People with red, blond or light brown hair.
• People with blue or green eyes.
• People with suppressed or low immunity.
• People who have been exposed to x-ray or other radiation forms for prolonged time.
• Arsenic exposure.

clinical features:

There is more than one type of BCC and the appearances vary depending on the type of BCC, it may appear as:

• A bump or a pearly nodule, it may appear as a light pink, brown or flesh colored.
• An easy bleeding sore or a sore that doesn't heal.
• A well defined red and scaly patch.
• A scar like lesion.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is made by taking a history, examining the lesion and confirming the diagnosis by taking a skin biopsy. There are many types of biopsies and the patient is given local anesthesia before taking the biopsy to numb the skin.

Treatment:

Treatment depends on the type, extent and the location of BCC. Treatment includes:

• Surgical excision of the tumor after using local anesthesia followed by closing the wound with stitches.
• Curettage and electrodessication in which the cancer cells are scrapped away with a curette and the remaining is destroyed with an electrical current that generates heat.
• Mohs surgery in which the surgeon after removing each piece of skin, examines it under a microscope to check if there is any cancer cells left behind, if tumor cells are still present another piece is removed until the skin sample is free from cancer cells. Among other methods, this method provides the highest cure rate.
• Cryotherapy: this method freezes the tumor cells using liquid nitrogen leading to their destruction.
• Radiation therapy: this method may be use when cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other organs or for patients who can't withstand surgery.
• Topical creams such as imiguimod used for treatment of superficial BCC.

Prevention:

• Protecting the skin from the effect of sunlight by wearing protective clothes which include hats, clothes with long sleeves and UV protective glasses.
• Avoid exposure to sunlight in peak hours from 10am-4pm.
• Sunlight protection by using a broad spectrum sunscreen with a sun protective factor of at least 15 or higher. Apply the sunscreen to all areas of the body 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply it frequently.
• Examining the skin regularly for any lesion that recently appeared, changes in an existing lesion that may be suspicious include: growing, any change in appearance, bleeding, pain, itching, inflammation or a lesion that never heals completely
• Full skin examination by a qualified physician once a year.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

The skin like other organs in the body can be affected by cancer. Skin cancer is an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of skin cells that can be divided into three types:

• Squamous cell carcinoma.
• Basal cell carcinoma.
• Malignant melanoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma:

This type of cancer originates from the squamous cells present in the epidermis which is the outer most layer of the skin (see the skin). Too much exposure to ultraviolet light of sun is the most common cause and that's why it is more common on areas that are exposed to sun light.

Certain factors increase the risk of squamous skin cancer which may include:

• Sunlight exposure for a long time.
• People with fair skin are more affected than people with dark skin because they have less melanin pigment which protects the skin from sunlight.
• People who have been exposed to x-rays for a prolonged time.
• Burns, ulcers and old scars on the skin.
• Exposure to chemical substances such as arsenic.
• Old age people.
• Genetic disorders eg, Xeroderma pigmentosum.
• People with suppressed or low immunity.

Squamous cell carcinoma can appear on any area of the body but it mostly appear on sun exposed areas such as the head and neck including the ears and lips, back of the hands.

Symptoms and signs:

• In early stages the skin change may include a skin bump that may be pink or red in color with a rough or scaly surface.
• A change in a pre existing lesion is a warning sign.
• Actinic Keratosis is a precancerous skin lesion that may change to squamous cell cancer, changes in Actinic Keratosis may be a warning sign for developing squamous cell carcinoma, and these changes may include: increase in size, increase in redness, bleeding, thickening or pain.
• This type of cancer has the ability to spread to the deeper layers of the skin and may also spread to other areas of the body as well.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is usually made by examining the lesion and confirmed by taking a skin biopsy, there are many types of biopsies and the patient is given local anesthesia before taking the biopsy to numb the skin.

Treatment:

The earlier the diagnosis is, the better is the cure rate. Factors that determine the treatment options are: tumor size, the location of tumor and whether or not the tumor has spread.

• Cutting the tumor out (excision) after giving local anesthesia and then the wound is closed with stitches.
• Curettage and electrodessication in which the cancer cells are scrapped away with a curette and the remaining is destroyed with an electrical current that generates heat. This type of treatment is used for small squamous cell carcinoma.
• Cryotherapy: this method freezes the tumor cells using liquid nitrogen leading to their destruction.
• Advanced surgery called Mohs surgery in which the surgeon after removing each piece of skin, examines it under a microscope to check if there is any cancer cells left behind, if tumor cells are still present another piece is removed until the skin sample is free from cancer cells. This type of surgery is mostly used for tumors on the face such as the ears or for difficult or recurring tumors.
• Actinic keratosis and some cases of Bowen's disease which is the earliest form of squamous cell cancer can be treated with 5-fluorouracil containing lotion or imiquimod.
• Radiotherapy: this method may be used when the tumor is large, in places where it is difficult to remove or to relieve symptoms when the tumor has spread to other parts of the body. Radiotherapy maybe used alone or in combination with surgery.
• Chemotherapy: this method is used in cases where there is spread of the tumor to other body parts. In advanced cases, chemotherapy is added to surgery or radiation.
• Photodynamic laser therapy: may be used in Bowen's disease.

Prevention:

• As sun exposure is the most important factor, protecting the skin by wearing protective clothes which include hats, long sleeve clothes and UV protective glasses and try to stay out of the sun during peak sunny hours from 10am-4pm.
• Using sunscreens with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 15. For children and persons with fair skin use sun protective factor of 30.
• Regular checking of the skin for any lesion that recently appeared, changes in an existing lesion that may be suspicious include: growing, any change in appearance, bleeding, pain, itching, inflammation or a lesion that never heals completely.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

Some patients when burned will need to be admitted to the hospital while others don't. When a patient with burns is admitted to the hospital, he/she will be assessed in the burn unit by a team called the burn team. According to the assessment, treatment will be provided to the patient. With time, most patients will improve and at some point a discharge plan will be set for the patient. The patient will be examined by the treating physicians and other members of the burn team before the patient is discharged. In almost all cases, the burn team makes the right decision.

In some cases:

• If the burn team decided to discharge you from the hospital but you think that you are no ready to be discharged, (either you are not feeling well or for some reason you think that you shouldn't be discharged) and you disagree with the decision to discharge you have to tell the team that there is something wrong with you, and you are not feeling well enough to be discharged. If the team still thinks that you should be discharged you can contact the patient's services representative or anyone who you think can help. Tell them that you disagree with the burn team's decision to discharge.
• When the burned patient is a pediatric patient, this makes the situation harder as these patients can't speak, communicate, or express their feelings. Parents usually know their children better than anyone else. If your child has been ordered to be discharged but you feel that he/she is not doing well eg, he/she is not playful, not eating well, doesn't hold eye contact, the wounds don't look well or any other reason that leads you to think that your child is not ready to be discharged, you have to tell the doctor in charge or any of the burn team staff that you think your child is not ready to be discharged. If you don't get a satisfactory response you have to seek other channels. Contact the patient's service department and communicate your concerns. Write down the names of the people you speak with and what they say in response to your concerns. You should not be intimidated... Make your feelings known firmly and respectfully.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

A geriatric is a person who is older than 65 years. The geriatric population is increasing in developed countries due to the improvement of services and quality of life.

Flames and scalds are the leading cause of burns in geriatrics. Risk factors that may contribute to burn injury in elderly people include:

• Living alone.


• Decrease in the level of mobility.


• Decreased supervision of elderly people.


• Decreased smell and decreased reaction time.

All degrees of burns can happen (First, Second and Third), but there are risk factors that may increase the severity of the burn which may include:

• The presence of chronic diseases such diabetes.


• Atrophy (thinning) of the skin and subcutaneous fat.


• Nutritional deficiency.


• Cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction.

With age, the skin becomes thin with decreased vascularity, making elderly people more liable for deep burns as well as decreased wound healing.

Elderly people have increased risk to develop contractures due to a higher percentage of deep burns. When the burn is deep a skin graft may be needed and as the skin thins with aging this will lead to a poor donor site as well as difficulty in healing for both the donor and the recipient site.

Elderly patients require more rehabilitation and the long term disability is greater due to the presence of the risk factors that may increase the severity of burn.

Elderly people should always make sure that the smoke detector is working, that there is someone that can be contacted easily in case of an emergency; and they are careful when cooking and handling hot objects.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

Debridement is defined as the process of removing dead tissue and contaminated material from and around a wound to expose healthy tissue.

When the skin gets burned and tissue dies, the dead tissue will naturally fall of as part of the healing process of the skin. In other cases where the burns are more severe, wound debridement will be needed. Dead tissue is a good medium for bacteria to grow and that is why it is important to remove it (bacteria can lead to infection).

Debridement methods are:

Surgical, Chemical, Mechanical and Autolytic.

The wound will be assessed to determine: the best debridement method by examining the depth, extent and location of the wound; whether it lies close to other structures like bones, the risk of infection and antibiotic use, and the type of pain management that will be used during and after the procedure.

• Surgical debridement:

This is done using scalpels, forceps, scissors and other instruments to cut dead tissue from the wound. It is the most effective method used if the wound is large, has deep tissue damage, and may be done if the wound debridement is urgent. The wound will be cleaned with saline and then the dead tissue will be cut, this method may need to be repeated more than once and sometimes skin grafts may need to be transplanted into the debrided site.
• Mechanical debridement:

This is done by applying a saline moistened dressing over the wound and allowing it to dry and adhere to the dead tissue, when the dressing is removed the dead tissue will be pulled with it, this method is one of the oldest and can be very painful.
• Chemical debridement:
  This is done by using enzymes and other compounds to dissolve dead tissue in the wound.
• Autolytic debridement:

This method involves using dressings that retain wound fluids, allowing the body itself to naturally get rid of the dead tissue. This method is not used if the wound is infected or quick treatment is needed, it takes more time than the other methods and is a good method if the body cannot tolerate more forceful treatment.

Debridement is done under general or local anesthesia, pain medications may be given if there is pain.

It is important to take good care of the debrided burned area by keeping the wound and the dressing clean and dry. Contact the doctor if there are signs of infection (discharge from the wound, color change, swelling, redness, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, fever and chills).

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

They are clothing in which the materials that is made from can catch fire easily. Flammable clothing became public in the 1940s after an epidemic of children who sustained leg burns caused by the ignition of Gene Audry cowboy suits, these suits were highly flammable. Soon this was reinforced when girls sustained burns that resulted from wearing cotton sweater which were highly flammable (torch sweaters). In 1953 the Flammability Fabrics Act was passed in the USA that regulates the manufacture and sale of wearing appeal of highly flammable clothing.

Among common flammable clothing for children are pajamas, gowns, and bathrobes. Factors that affect the speed at which clothes ignite and the rate at which they burn after being ignited include:

• The type of material it's made of: cotton burns fast and is destroyed completely within seconds, synthetic fiber such as nylon has a lower risk of burning but it will melt and stick to the skin. For wool it burns very slowly and doesn't ignite. A fabric that is made from plant fibers which is chemically treated has flame retardant characters.
• A fabric that is heavier and has a tighter weave has a higher flame resistance with a slower burn rate.
• Pile surfaces have very loose fibers with significant air spaces between them, eg fuzzy fabrics, faux fur and others. In this type the surface easily ignites and the flames spread quickly across the brushed surface.
• The design of the cloth: tight fitting clothes are less dangerous than long loose fitting clothes as long loose fitting clothes can swing away from the body and catch fire.

To protect children from being burned:

• When buying clothes and sleepwear for children look for a label with low fire risk.
• Avoid buying clothes that can catch fire easily.
• Make sure that there is a protective guard around places where there are heaters and fires.
• Children should be monitored and prevented from playing with candles, matches and lighters.
• Children should be kept away from any fire source such as heaters.
• In case clothes your child is wearing catch fire, Stop, drop and roll.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.