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Burn Awareness Week is February 1-7, 2009 and The El Paso Fire Department is using this week to kick-off a yearlong campaign designed to help prevent gasoline burn injuries. Kids ages 13 and older are in the highest at risk group for gasoline and other flammable substances burn injuries. Kids ages 10-14 years old are four times more likely to get in trouble with gasoline. Most gasoline injuries are avoidable through proper use and storage of gasoline.

Gasoline is a necessary part of our everyday lives. Without it, we’d be unable to get to and from work; our store shelves would be empty; our lawn mowers would be idle.
While gasoline is important, it is also very dangerous. Its fumes can quickly ignite, causing serious injury or death. “Gasoline has only one use– to fuel an engine. Any other use is misuse” is the theme of the El Paso Fire Department’s Burn Awareness campaign for 2009.
El Paso Fire Officials Offer these Gasoline Safety Tips:

• Always store it in approved safety containers - these can be expensive, but it is cheap "fire insurance"
• Always have a fire extinguisher marked for "B" type fires (Gasoline and other flammable liquids) - Be sure you know how to use it!
• Always keep the minimum amount of gas required
• Always store the container in a cool and well-ventilated area. Keep it away from any source of heat or sparks such as water heater, electric motor or car engines
• Always store the containers in the garage or shed rather than inside the house
• Always keep gasoline away from children
• Never carry gasoline in the trunk of your car
• Never siphon gasoline by sucking the hose; gasoline can be fatal to adults too, if swallowed
• Never use gasoline as a cleaner, a charcoal starter or a solvent

If you or your child should ever swallow gasoline, then

• Move the child away from the gasoline source; then secure the gasoline safely
• Call your doctor or Poison Center immediately, or call 911
• Never induce vomiting; the same is true kerosene, lighter fluid and fuel oil
• For gasoline on clothing - remove the clothing and dispose of carefully
• For gasoline of skin - use lots of warm soapy water to reduce the risk of chemical burns

If you do have a gasoline fire and don't have a "ABC" type fire extinguisher

• Get everyone away from the fire
• Call the Fire department by dialing 911
• Stay calm
• Never use water to put out a gasoline fire

Quick Facts About Burn Injuries

• Each year in the United States, 1.1 million burn injuries require medical attention. Approximately 4,500 people die. And up to 10,000 people die every year in the U.S. from burn-related infections.
• The Shiners Hospitals for Children specializing in treating burn injuries have admitted more than 10,000 acute pediatric burn patients since 1994, including those treated for gasoline burn injuries.
• Shiners Hospitals specializing in burns have treated more than 800 children since 2002 for acute burns due to ignition of a highly flammable material such as gasoline.
• Kids ages 13 and older are in the highest at-risk group for gasoline and other flammable substance burns.
• Fires caused by gasoline are a major factor in burn injuries. In one year there were 4,700 gasoline fires in U.S. homes.
• According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, in one-year approximately 1,270 children under age 5 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries resulting from the misuse of gasoline and unsecured gasoline cans.
• Children ages 10-14 are almost four times more likely to get in trouble with gasoline.

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