[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ith a summer long weekend around the corner, many people will be planning to use a barbecue, have a campfire or set off fireworks. While these activities seem harmless enough, they can quickly turn to tragedy if proper care and common sense aren’t used. [pullquote align= “right”]Don’t drink and barbecue. If you’ve had too many drinks to drive, you should not be using a barbecue[/pullquote]
Dr. Marc Jeschke is the Director of the Ross Tilley Burn Centre at Sunnybrook, Canada’s largest burn centre. Each year, he treats many people with severe burns caused by these summertime activities. Here, he offers several tips to keep you safe and away from the emergency room this weekend:
- Don’t drink and barbecue. If you’ve had too many drinks to drive, you should not be using a barbecue
- Don’t use igniter or gasoline on fires
- Use fireproof gloves
- Avoid wearing loose clothing around open flames
- Always supervise children around fires and fireworks
If you do get a burn, the best initial treatment is cold water. If it’s a significant burn, call 911 and get to the nearest hospital. Do not attempt to use homemade remedies on the burn, such as butter, vinegar, oil or lemon.
