22 July 2021
Summer Safety Campaign – campfires
With so many people opting to stay in the UK for their Summer holiday this year, camp sites are filling up. If you’re camping this year, here are a few tips for safe campfires. With thanks to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (www.rospa.com).
– Having a fire away from tents and sleeping areas is critically important. This is why many sites specify metres of space between tents to limit fire spread, as well as maintain some degree of privacy.
– Using accelerants such as meths (methylated spirits) and petrol on a fire is extremely risky. When poured onto a fire/wood, they vaporise and can ignite much quicker than expected, and this isn’t easily visible – at best you might have singed eyebrows, at worst – significant burns.
– You should be able to step away from a fire without tripping/climbing over anything. This means that when the fire starts you can step away freely, pause and lower/douse the fire, and then get on with cooking.
– For open fires, it is always a good idea to have a bucket of earth, sand or water to hand, or a fire blanket to help put the fire out.
– When you’re finished with them make sure that fires and barbecues are completely out, and taken to a safe spot. Badly disposed of barbecues, such as those buried under sand, can cause significant injuries and burns to children, as the ground retains heat for several hours after the barbecue has been extinguished.
– Cooking stoves should be serviced annually.
– Make sure you use the correct type of gas canister for your stove, and check the manufacturer’s guidance for correct usage, as well as how to safety dispose of the canister when you’re done.
#KeepingYouSafe #SummerSafety
