Paraffin, also known as kerosene, is among the most frequently used fuels for cooking, lighting and heating among people living in South Africa. Paraffin is relatively inexpensive to produce and consume and a wide range of appliances are equipped to burn it, but it can endanger human health from burns and poisoning.
RISKS
Paraffin is highly flammable and can lead to fires originating from malfunctioning paraffin appliances; improper placement of appliances (e.g. near curtains or tablecloths); use of polluted paraffin (since paraffin is highly explosive when mixed with water or other fuels); use of paraffin by children or intoxicated individuals; and many other causes. Young children are at greatest risk of paraffin poisoning. Because paraffin has the consistency and appearance of water and in some places is stored in reused beverage containers without child-resistant caps, unsupervised children are at high risk of consuming it.
Should an emergency occur, you need to be PREPARED. Study these guidelines carefully, and teach family and friends to act quickly should any of these emergencies occur.
EMERGENCY 1: A CHILD SWALLOWS PARAFFIN
- Never encourage the child to vomit, as the paraffin will be forced up from the stomach into the lungs and cause serious damage to the child
- Give nothing to eat or drink
- Remove clothing if paraffin is spilt on it to avoid breathing in paraffin fumes
- Wash paraffin off the skin
- Get the child to the hospital or Clinic IMMEDIATELY
EMERGENCY 2: FIRE
- Raise the alarm by shouting “Fire, Fire!”
- Wake everyone up and GET OUT IMMEDIATELY
- If the home is already on fire and filled with smoke, then drop to the ground and crawl out as low as possible under the smoke, where air is easier to breathe
- If someone is on fire, get them to STOP – DROP to the ground, and ROLL around to kill the flames. You could also roll them in a woollen blanket to put out flames
- Call fire services or the police. Keep a clear path for them to do their work and keep everyone out of the burning buildings
EMERGENCY 3: BURNS
It is best to treat all burns as serious injuries that should be checked by the clinic or hospital, after first taking these steps yourself at home:
- ACT FAST TO COOL A BURN
- If clothing is stuck to the burned skin, do not try and remove the clothing
- NEVER put anything on the burn except a burn dressing (BURNSHIELD available from leading pharmacies)
- Keep a BURNSHIELD Burn Kit in your home and know how to use it
BURNSHIELD IS SUITABLE FOR ALL TYPES OF BURNS
HOW TO TREAT LARGE BURN AREAS WITH BURNSHIELD
- For larger burns, use a Medium or Large BURNSHIELD BURN Dressing
- Remove rings and necklaces in the event of swelling causing discomfort
- Apply the Burnshield Dressing over the wound (Ensure to extend application beyond the burn area)
- Secure the dressing with a non-absorbant bandage
- Re-apply Burnshield Hydrogel to prevent the wound from dehydrating
- Seek medical attention
HOW TO TREAT MINOR BURNS AND SCALDS WITH BURNSHIELD
- Apply the Burnshield Hydrogel thoroughly (Ensure to extend application beyond the burn area)
- Secure the gel with a non-absorbant dressing
- Re-apply Burnshield Hydrogel to prevent the wound from dehydrating
- Seek medical attention