Clinicians urge safety around campfires and barbecues this long weekend

Nurse practitioner Lisa Braithwaite has been working in emergency medicine for more than 20 years and is no stranger to the common and unfortunate increase in patients needing burns care each summer.

“Patients come to The Alfred and often tell us they were using spare petrol from a jerry can to reignite a campfire fire that went out overnight,” Lisa said.

“Many people try similar things with methylated spirits that they might have bought for their camping stove.

“The end result is a disaster, and they end up with significant burns.”

Mel Nealy, Burns Nurse Clinical Lead from the Victorian Adult Burns Service at The Alfred, said scenarios like this around open fires can easily escalate to something much more serious.

“It’s not just the actual liquid from accelerants that poses a danger, but the vapour coming off them as well,” Mel said.

“It means that people end up igniting fires that are much bigger and more dangerous than they might expect.”

Lisa emphasised the importance of seeking medical help right away, even if it means cutting your holiday short.

“We've had patients come to us four or five days down the track because they wanted to stay out camping, even with significant burns,” Lisa said.

“A burn that may have required only dressings becomes serious enough to require surgery.”

Mel said long weekends in summer also tend to coincide with a rise in patients admitted with burns injuries sustained from barbecue misadventure.

“I’ve seen patients sustain major burns from gas barbeque explosions, some covering over 20 per cent of the body,” Mel said.

"While summer is a great time of year, where we enjoy warm weather and spend time socialising with family and friends, a short lapse in concentration can result in a serious lifelong injury.

"Our message is simple: practice commonsense around barbeques," said Mel.

"Make sure your gas cylinders are in-date and test the gas lines and connections for leaks prior to use."

"If you're intoxicated, ask someone sober to manage the barbeque. Remember to use your barbeque in a clear, outdoor space, never leave it unattended, and most importantly, never use accelerants and take care when using oil.

“If you do get injured, seek medical help right away.

“Importantly, we’re here to help if you need us.”