Citation

Sarhadi NS, Reid WH, Murray GD, Williamson J. Burns 2001; 27(7): 731-738.

Affiliation

West Midlands Regional Plastic Surgery Unit, Wordsley Hospital, West Midlands DY8 5QY, Stourbridge, UK. nanak@scirhadi@freeserve.co.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11600253

Abstract

Scotland has the highest rate of fire fatalities in the UK. Nearly 50% of the population and fire deaths in Scotland are in the Strathclyde region. The data from the burns unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary were studied to find the number of admissions due to flame burns and see how it compared with the fire deaths. During 1981-1993, amongst 2771 admissions to the burns unit, 1181 (43%) were due to flame burns and out of these flame burn victims, 69% were adults, 16% elderly and 15% children. The distribution of cases according to the total body surface area (TBSA) involvement was 866 (73%) with 1-15%, 165 (14%) with 16-30%, and 150 (13%) with > or =31% TBSA burns. The annual number of flame burn admissions declined during 1981-1993. In the Glasgow region 50% of the domestic fires leading to non-fatal burns or to death were started by misuse of smoking materials. Chip pan fires were responsible for 8% of admissions to the burns unit. The annual number of fire fatalities when reviewed for a longer period 1973-1995 also showed a decreasing trend. Further educational and legislative measures to prevent flame burns are discussed.