Experts reveal how to safely extinguish campfires and say why you should never use sand or dirt

An Easter weekend warning: The ONE huge mistake thousands of campers are making that can cause severe injury to children and adults

Safety experts have warned campers not to extinguish fires using dirt or sand
CPR Kids said fires can stay up to 100C for hours after being covered with sand
Sand and dirt can hide hot patches and cause serious burns when stepped on
In a Facebook post, CPR Kids said to douse campfires with water to extinguish

By Louise Allingham For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 04:27 BST, 13 April 2022 | Updated: 04:27 BST, 13 April 2022

An Australian parenting group has issued a warning to those going camping this Easter long weekend to not ‘hide the heat’ by extinguishing campfires with sand or dirt.

CPR Kids said fires extinguished with dirt or sand can sit at scorching temperatures for hours after the flames have disappeared that can cause serious burns to unsuspecting barefoot campers.

A post to the CPR Kids’ Facebook page recommended putting campfires out with water before going to bed or leaving a site.

CPR Kids has warned against using sand or dirt to extinguish campfires as it can sit at 100C for hours after the flames have disappeared and cause serious burns if stepped on

How to safely extinguish a campfire

1. Drown the campfire in water.

2. Mix up the ashes and embers with a stick.

3. Scrape off the burnt parts on the sticks and logs.

4. Pour more water on the fire.

5. Feel the logs and coals to make sure they aren’t hot

6. Repeat the steps until the fire is cool to the touch.

Source: WikiHow

‘Fires extinguished with sand can retain heat up to 100 degrees Celsius for eight hours after the flames are no longer visible,’ the post read.

Sand and dirt can hide burning embers and residual heat making it near-impossible for adults and children walking in the area to be aware of such risk.

Campfires should be doused with water to be properly extinguished and be cool to the touch before abandoning.

The child safety experts highlighted the dangers by citing a case back in 2018 where six-year-old Kai Dight suffered horrific burns to his feet after stepping on an abandoned fire hidden by sand on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The boy was camping with his family in Noosa when he stepped in the searing patch of sand and was rushed to hospital where he had to undergo multiple surgeries for deep burns to the bottom of his feet.

Following the incident, head of the Queensland Children’s Hospital burns unit, Professor Roy Kimble said that year out of the 64 children who were treated for burns from outdoor fires, 51 of those were caused by glowing coals or ashes rather than flames.

‘It only takes one second of contact with a campfire to acquire very deep burns, but it can take months, if not years, of intensive therapy to reduce scarring and regain mobility in severely burnt limbs,’ he said.

Sand and dirt can hide burning embers and residual heat making it near-impossible for adults and children walking in the area to be aware of such risk

Burns 101: What to do when your child suffers a burn

1. Remove clothing or jewellery near the burn: The first thing you need to do is remove any clothing, jewellery, or nappies around the burn unless its stuck to the skin, then you need to leave in place and cool over the top.

2. Cool the burn: Hold the child’s burned area under cool running tap water for 20 minutes. We need to remember, we are only cooling the area that is burned – keep the rest of your child warm. If you don’t have cool running water immediately available, this can still be effective up to three hours after the burn injury.

3. Cover the burn: The next thing you need to do is cover the burn loosely with a clean wet cloth or towel or a non stick dressing preferably something that’s not shedding fibers.

4. Don’t use lotions, creams or home remedies: Don’t apply any lotions creams, butter, egg whites or any home remedies because not only can that trap the heat on the skin but the doctors aren’t able to treat the burn effectively and it will have to be removed off the burn.

5. Seek medical attention: Call for an ambulance if the burn is extensive, if your child had burns to the face, neck or chest, if you cannot safely transport them to hospital because of where the burn is, if they have extreme pain or if there’s risk of any burn to their airways. Or even if you are unsure and don’t know what to do. Any burn in a child where the skin has been disrupted, so where the skin has come away or there is blistering, needs to be seen medically.

Source: Sarah Hunstead – CPR Kids

CPR Kids urged parents should be extra vigilant and always supervise children around campfires.

Pediatric nurse and CPR Kids founder, Sarah Hunstead gave some helpful advice on what to do if your child suffers a burn.

‘When it comes to the first aid treatment for burns, no matter what the cause the first aid is the same,’ she said in a video posted to the CPR Kids Facebook.

The mum-of-two said the first thing you need to do is remove any clothing, jewellery or nappies around the burn unless it has stuck to the skin.

Secondly, she said to run the burn under cold running water for 20 minutes then cover the burn loosely with a clean wet cloth, towel or non-stick dressing.

‘Any burn in a child where the skin has been disrupted, so where the skin has come away or is blistering, needs to be seen medically,’ she explained.

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