Fires

Updated 3/2017 -- all links removed (except to my own posts) as many no longer active.

A month ago during a storm with significant straight line winds we had a tree near the house loss it's top half. Upon inspection, it turned out the pine tree was infested with pine beetles. We were encouraged to burn the debris to help protect the other trees from the beetles.

This past week my husband cut up the felled tree (we still need to get a tree cutter out to cut down the 2/3s of the tree still standing) and carried it to an area of the front property.  Yesterday morning after a light rain, he decided it was a good time to set it afire and burn it.  Note the red container under the tree to the left.  It contains gasoline.  [Even though he told me he wouldn’t use an accelerant.]  He did run a water hose down from the house which is barely visible in the forefront of the photo.

Medscape has a really nice article with video by Kenneth L. Silverstein, MD; Stephanie Josephon --  Surgical Fires: How They Start and How to Prevent Them.

……….For those of you watching, you can find out more about the FDA's Preventing Surgical Fires Initiative on our Website. You can also download educational materials and other resources to help reduce the risk for fire at your facility. We hope you'll join our partnership to help eliminate surgical fires. Thank you for watching.

As with my husband’s fire, thought must be given to the surroundings, what in the area is flammable or the fuel (in the OR – surgical drapes, patient, etc), accelerants or oxidizers (in the OR – concentrated O2, etc), and igniters (in the OR – lasers, cautery).

There must be forethought to prevention, but there must also be thought given to what do we do if a fire starts.  Where is the fire extinguishers?  Does the staff know what to do? 

Happy 4th of July

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. 

I made cheesecake for the family cookout.  On the healthier side, I am also roasting corn-on-the-cob to contribute.
 

I would encourage you all to remember your sunscreen as you get up out of your chairs and head outside.   Watch out for the heat.  Be safe as you enjoy the fireworks.

……………….

I wish you all could read this wonderful essay in its entirety:  Sleepless by Joshua Alley, MD in the June 22 issue of JAMA (full reference below).  It is an essay that speaks of how we treat our enemies

I thought about our enemies tonight, and why and how we physicians care for them.  ….

…, but the reason I went nearly sleepless that night is so that I can sleep all the other nights. It's essentially the same reason I take extra care with each patient at home. A common phrase in my operating room is “I do it this way so I can sleep at night.” I can go to bed knowing I cut no corners, I gave each patient the best possible chance at a good outcome. There are still bad outcomes, and I agonize over those, replaying each decision in my head afterward. But I did the best I could by each one.  ….

One mark of a civilized people is our response to wounded enemies. …… Yes, caring for our enemies consumes resources: helicopter flight time, ICU days, operating room hours, sleepless nights, expensive medications and equipment. Because we ought to. Because I’ll have to live with my actions. “Do good to those who hate you,” we read in Matthew's gospel. And tonight, I can sleep, because last night I didn’t.

 Happy 4th of July!  Thanks to all our military (active and retired) and their families.

REFERENCE

Sleepless; Joshua B. Alley; JAMA, 2011;305(24):2501-2502.doi:10.1001/jama.2011.863

Fireworks Safety Review

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. 

As the 4th of July approaches, I’ve begun to hear fireworks exploring in my neighborhood.  It’s been dry here, so in addition to the risk of injury to person there is a risk of setting the fields on fire.  I sure hope my neighbors are being responsible.

I hope you will all have a safe and happy July 4th.  Be safe and stay out of the ER.

Please use the following tips:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.  A responsible adult should be in charge.
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions. 
• Be sure other people are out-of-range before lighting fireworks. Small children should be kept a safe distance from the fireworks; older children that use fireworks need to be carefully supervised.
• Do not smoke when handling any type of "live" firecracker, rocket, or aerial display.
• Keep all fireworks away from any flammable liquids, dry grassy areas, or open bonfires.
• Keep a bucket of water or working garden hose nearby in case of a malfunction or fire.
• Take note of any sudden wind change that could cause sparks or debris to fall on a car, house, or person.
• Never attempt to pick up and relight a "fizzled" firework device that has failed to light or "go off"
• Do not use any aluminum or metal soda/beer can or glass bottle to stage or hold fireworks before lighting.
• Do not use any tightly closed container for these lighted devices to add to the exploding effect or to increase noise.
• Never attempt to make your own exploding device from raw gunpowder or similar flammable substance. The results are too unpredictable.
• Never use mail-order fireworks kits. These do-it-yourself kits are simply unsafe.

You might also like:

• Fireworks Safety (June 28, 2008)
• Fireworks Safety  (July 2, 2009)
• Fireworks Safety (June 30, 2010)

Fireworks Safety

 Updated 3/2017 -- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active.

Time for a reminder of safe firework use.  This Daily News article by Lauren Johnston -- Doctors replace woman's missing thumb with big toe transplant – shows and tells you why.

A Long Island woman's big toe will adapt to function as a thumb after doctors performed a rare transplant operation to replace the vital missing digit.

Shannon Elliott, 25, lost the thumb and two fingers from her left hand in November when a firework exploded in her palm. …….

I hope you will all have a safe and happy July 4th.  Be safe and stay out of the ER.
Please use the following tips:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
• Fireworks should be unpacked from any paper packing out-of-doors and away from any open flames.
• Be sure other people are out-of-range before lighting fireworks. Small children should be kept a safe distance from the fireworks; older children that use fireworks need to be carefully supervised.
• Do not smoke when handling any type of "live" firecracker, rocket, or aerial display.
• Keep all fireworks away from any flammable liquids, dry grassy areas, or open bonfires.
• Keep a bucket of water or working garden hose nearby in case of a malfunction or fire.
• Take note of any sudden wind change that could cause sparks or debris to fall on a car, house, or person.
• Never attempt to pick up and relight a "fizzled" firework device that has failed to light or "go off"
• Do not use any aluminum or metal soda/beer can or glass bottle to stage or hold fireworks before lighting.
• Do not use any tightly closed container for these lighted devices to add to the exploding effect or to increase noise.
• Never attempt to make your own exploding device from raw gunpowder or similar flammable substance. The results are too unpredictable.
• Never use mail-order fireworks kits. These do-it-yourself kits are simply unsafe.

If you need more information on the injuries that can occur, check out these sites:
Fireworks Related Injuries by the CDC
Prevent Blindness America

Fireworks Safety

Time for a reminder of safe firework use.  I hope you will all have a safe and happy July 4th.  Be safe and stay out of the ER. 

Please use the following tips:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
• Fireworks should be unpacked from any paper packing out-of-doors and away from any open flames.
• Be sure other people are out-of-range before lighting fireworks. Small children should be kept a safe distance from the fireworks; older children that use fireworks need to be carefully supervised.
• Do not smoke when handling any type of "live" firecracker, rocket, or aerial display.
• Keep all fireworks away from any flammable liquids, dry grassy areas, or open bonfires.
• Keep a bucket of water or working garden hose nearby in case of a malfunction or fire.
• Take note of any sudden wind change that could cause sparks or debris to fall on a car, house, or person.
• Never attempt to pick up and relight a "fizzled" firework device that has failed to light or "go off"
• Do not use any aluminum or metal soda/beer can or glass bottle to stage or hold fireworks before lighting.
• Do not use any tightly closed container for these lighted devices to add to the exploding effect or to increase noise.
• Never attempt to make your own exploding device from raw gunpowder or similar flammable substance. The results are too unpredictable.
• Never use mail-order fireworks kits. These do-it-yourself kits are simply unsafe.

Fireworks Safety

 Updated 3/2017-- all links removed as many no longer are active.

This is a repeat of the post I did last July 2. I wish you all a safe and happy July 4th.

I love watching fireworks explode and light up the night sky. I do not like to take care of the injuries that they can cause. So please use the following tips to keep yourself and your children safe this July 4th (or consider leaving the fireworks to the experts and just enjoy the show):

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
• Fireworks should be unpacked from any paper packing out-of-doors and away from any open flames.
• Be sure other people are out-of-range before lighting fireworks. Small children should be kept a safe distance from the fireworks; older children that use fireworks need to be carefully supervised.
• Do not smoke when handling any type of "live" firecracker, rocket, or aerial display.
• Keep all fireworks away from any flammable liquids, dry grassy areas, or open bonfires.
• Keep a bucket of water or working garden hose nearby in case of a malfunction or fire.
• Take note of any sudden wind change that could cause sparks or debris to fall on a car, house, or person.
• Never attempt to pick up and relight a "fizzled" firework device that has failed to light or "go off"
• Do not use any aluminum or metal soda/beer can or glass bottle to stage or hold fireworks before lighting.
• Do not use any tightly closed container for these lighted devices to add to the exploding effect or to increase noise.
• Never attempt to make your own exploding device from raw gunpowder or similar flammable substance. The results are too unpredictable.
• Never use mail-order fireworks kits. These do-it-yourself kits are simply unsafe.

If you need more information on the injuries that can occur, check out these sites:
Indian Hand Center
Reflections by Dr. Bruce Campbell---5th of July
Fireworks Related Injuries by the CDC
Prevent Blindness America