Safe use of emollients and skin creams
Skin creams dried on fabric can lead to fire deaths (MHRA 29 July 2020).
Some skin creams, when dried on to fabric, can create a highly flammable combination that can cause serious injury and death. Research has shown that the risk arises, even if the creams do not contain paraffin.
Emollient skin creams are used by thousands of people every day to manage dry, itchy or scaly skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and ichthyosis. They are easily transferred from skin on to clothing and bedding. When fabric with dried-on cream comes into contact with a naked flame, the resulting fire burns quickly and intensely and can result in serious injury or death.
The risk increases with every application of the cream as it transfers, dries and builds up on the fabric. Some cream remains even when the items are washed, so it’s important to minimise the risk in additional ways, such as removing long sleeved or loose clothing before cooking or using a safety lighter.
These creams are vital in helping to manage dry skin conditions. The creams alone are not flammable, nor are they flammable when on the body. Healthcare professionals should continue to recommend them for chronic dry skin conditions and those using them should continue to do so as directed while remaining alert to the risk of fire when dried on to fabric.
The MHRA, National Fire Chiefs Council, Fire and Rescue Services, and health charities have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the fire risk and the precautions that need to be taken when using skin creams. The guidance includes a “Safe Use of Emollients” video, posters and web links to provide further advice and resources to help minimise the risk when using emollients.
The following recommendations should be given to people who use emollients:
- Avoid smoking whilst wearing clothing or a bandage that has been in contact with skin creams
- Change and wash clothes and bedding frequently to reduce build-up of skin cream
- Keep cream off furniture
- Tell relatives and carers about your treatment and ask how they can help reduce the risk
- Tell your healthcare professional if you normally smoke
Since 2010, more than 50 deaths and serious injuries have been linked to the use of emollient skin creams. A review has shown that those most at risk tend to be over 60, smokers and have reduced mobility. The MHRA recommends anyone in this high-risk group, or their carers, should arrange a fire service assessment of their personal surroundings. They must exercise caution when close to naked flames or potential ignition sources (for example, lighting a cigarette).
Matumizi salama ya emollients na krimu za ngozi: Krimu za ngozi zilizokaushwa kwenye kitambaa zinaweza kusababisha vifo vya moto (MHRA, Julai 29, 2020). Wakati cream za ngozi zinavunjwa kwenye kitambaa, zinaweza kuunda mchanganyiko wa moto ambao unaweza kusababisha majeraha makubwa na kifo. Utafiti umeonyesha kwamba hatari hiyo hutokea hata ikiwa krimu hizo hazina parafini. Creams za ngozi za emollient hutumiwa na maelfu ya watu kila siku kusimamia hali kavu, itchy au scaly ngozi kama vile eczema, psoriasis na ichthyosis. Wao huhamishwa kwa urahisi kutoka kwenye ngozi hadi kwenye mavazi na vitambaa vya kulala. Wakati kitambaa kilicho na cream kavu kinapogusa moto, moto unaotokana na moto huo huwaka haraka na kwa nguvu na unaweza kusababisha majeraha makubwa au kifo. Hatari huongezeka kila mara unapoitumia, kwa kuwa huingia, huoka, na kujilimbikiza kwenye kitambaa. Baadhi ya cream inabaki hata wakati vitu ni kuoshwa, hivyo ni muhimu kupunguza hatari katika njia za ziada, kama vile kuondoa sleeved muda mrefu au nguo huru kabla ya kupika au kutumia lighter usalama. Krimu hizo ni muhimu katika kusaidia kudhibiti hali ya ngozi kavu. Krimu peke yake si zenye kuwaka moto, wala si zenye kuwaka moto zinapowekwa kwenye mwili. Wataalamu wa afya wanapaswa kuendelea kupendekeza kwa ajili ya hali ya ngozi kavu ya muda mrefu na wale wanaotumia wanapaswa kuendelea kufanya hivyo kama ilivyoelekezwa wakati wa kubaki tahadhari kwa hatari ya moto wakati kavu juu ya kitambaa. Shirika la Ulinzi wa Moto la Uingereza (MHRA), Baraza la Taifa la Wakuu wa Moto, Huduma za Moto na Uokoaji, na mashirika ya misaada ya afya yamezindua kampeni ya kuongeza ufahamu wa hatari ya moto na tahadhari ambazo zinahitaji kuchukuliwa wakati wa kutumia krimu za ngozi. Mwongozo huo unatia ndani video ya "Utumizi salama wa Emollients", mabango na viungo vya wavuti kutoa ushauri zaidi na rasilimali kusaidia kupunguza hatari wakati wa kutumia emollients. Kwa wale wanaotumia emollients, ni muhimu kuepuka kuvuta sigara wakati wa kuvaa nguo au bandage ambayo imegusa na cream za ngozi. kubadilisha na kuosha nguo na vitanda mara kwa mara ili kupunguza mkusanyiko wa cream ya ngozi. kuweka cream mbali na fanicha. waambie jamaa na watunzaji kuhusu matibabu yako na uulize jinsi wanaweza kusaidia kupunguza hatari. Utafiti unaonyesha kuwa watu walio katika hatari kubwa zaidi ni wale wenye umri wa miaka 60 na zaidi, wanaovuta sigara na wana uwezo mdogo wa kutembea. MHRA inapendekeza mtu yeyote katika kikundi hiki cha hatari ya juu, au watunzaji wao, wanapaswa kupanga tathmini ya huduma ya moto ya mazingira yao ya kibinafsi. Ni lazima wawe waangalifu wanapokuwa karibu na moto au vyanzo vya uwezekano wa moto (kwa mfano, kuwasha sigareti).