Burns specialists urge public to take care as bonfire night approaches

Burns specialists in Swansea Bay are calling on people to take care and be sensible to avoid injuries as bonfire night approaches.

Since 2019, the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery in Morriston Hospital has seen 60 firework-related injuries.

While some burns will heal on their own, more severe burns could require a skin graft.

Staff at the Morriston centre have urged people to take care around fireworks and bonfires this year.

Pictured (l-r): Physiotherapy technician Linne Toft, clinical psychologist Nicola Murphy, Tempest Burns ITU ward manager Louise Ball, staff nurse Siobhan James, clinical specialist physiotherapist Menna Davies, ward receptionist Nicola Beynon and healthcare support worker Alison Swinhoe.

Louise Ball, Tempest Burns ITU ward manager, said: “Fireworks can cause severe injury including burns, loss of fingers or sight and they can cause permanent disfigurement.

“We have seen numerous injuries over the years, nothing that has required treatment in intensive care thankfully.

“We have seen injuries in young children where a firework has accidentally gone off in the wrong direction and hit the child.

“We have also seen some injuries amongst adolescents who have been joking around.

“The injuries we see have varied. Some have been a full thickness burn which may require skin grafting but they can be minor burns that can be treated and will heal.”

People are encouraged to attend organised displays but if they can’t, they should buy fireworks from a licensed retailer and make sure to read the instructions first.

“We advise that fireworks should only be used in a supervised environment. The safest place to enjoy them is at an organised public display,” Louise (pictured) added.

“We discourage people from letting off fireworks or lighting fires in gardens.

“If people are going to build bonfires, they should be in a safe location with appropriate permissions. They should be an appropriate size and located well away from people, trees and properties.

“You should never light a bonfire with an accelerant, such as petrol.

“If people are going to use fireworks, they should make sure to buy them from a licensed retailer and read the instructions.

“Make sure they are used a safe distance away from any bystanders, buildings and trees or where they may distract drivers.

“Never relight them or approach them once they’ve been used.

“If people use a launch tab, make sure they are secured adequately as they can fall over and then the fireworks can go off in any direction.”

Sparklers can also be popular amongst children around bonfire night, with people urged to take care with these too.

Louise said: “Make sure children are always wearing gloves and holding them away from their body, face and other people.

“You should also make sure they are discarded safely into a bucket or something sturdy containing cold water, to extinguish them.

“If you do handle fireworks, you should be sensible and never throw them and definitely never throw them towards another person or a building.

“If someone’s clothing catches on fire, they should stop what they are doing, drop and roll to extinguish the flames.

“If someone sustains a burn or scald they should use cool running water for 20 to 30 minutes and seek medical help.”

The NHS website provides the following information on treating burns and scalds:

• Getting the person away from the heat source immediately

• Removing any clothing or jewellery near the burnt skin

• Cooling the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 to 30 minutes, and not using iced water or any creams or greases like butter

• Keeping the person warm with blankets, not touching the burnt area

• Once the burn is cool, covering it with cling film or a clean plastic bag

• Using painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain

• Raising the affected area to reduce any swelling

• Dialling 999 for acid or chemical burns, removing contaminated clothing and rinsing the burn with as much clean water as possible.