Select a region
Firefighters are warning islanders to take extra care with the beauty products they use on their skin after several serious incidents in the UK.
The focus of the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service's campaign is emollient skincare products, which can contain paraffin, petroleum or natural oils.
These ingredients are highly flammable and tend to be used to relieve dry and itchy skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
The emollients sometimes rub off and dry onto clothing and other materials, increasing the risk of catching fire if exposed to naked flames.
Ryan Hall, Station Commander, said: “An important part of being a firefighter is to educate the public on measures they can take to prevent an emergency from occurring in the first place, and the dangers of emollients is something that is not that widely known.
“Luckily, we haven’t had any cases in Jersey but there have been some serious and even fatal cases in the UK, and we want to help prevent the same from happening in our Island. We fully appreciate that these products serve a valuable purpose but when using emollients, people should stay away from naked flames wherever possible to keep themselves safe.”
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Dermatology, Diane Rolland added: "Emollients are a type of moisturiser which are hugely beneficial for various skincare treatments and come in a range of products such as ointments, gels, creams and sprays.
"People should be aware of the increased risk of burns from open flames as these products are highly flammable. We don’t want to deter people from using them, rather ensure that all precautions are taken to minimise risk.”
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.