Schools given safety alert after pupils scalded

FIFE COUNCIL: ‘Training gap’ led to kelly kettle incident that left children injured

A safety alert has been issued to schools after a camping kettle exploded, leaving a youngster in intensive care.

Three children were treated for burns after the vessel exploded during an outdoor class at an after school club in June last year.

The pupils, aged 11 and 12, were heating water during the supervised outdoor activity in a wooded area behind Lumphinnans Primary School in Cowdenbeath.

Pressure built up in the kettle and boiling water was sprayed over them.

Fife Council launched an investigation following the incident.

Two of the youngsters were taken to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy and treated for scalding to their faces and bodies.

One of them had to be treated in intensive care after the burns became infected. He spent more than a week in hospital.

At the time, the child’s father said he cried when he saw the extent of the injuries.

The boy was said to have been vomiting after infection took hold, and was told by a doctor he had suffered nerve damage and would be scarred for life.

A third child, Ryan Griffin, who is now 12, suffered burns on his back and was taken to the Sick Children’s Hospital in Edinburgh.

Ryan’s mum, Jo Griffin, said the council had not contacted her about the outcome of the investigation.

She added: “To be honest, we’re just trying to put it in the past now.

“We feel, after it happened, it went on for ages.”

Apart from a few marks on his skin, Ryan has now made a full recovery.

Mrs Griffin, 37, said: “There is some marking at times and we don’t know if it will go away.

“But he’s fine.”

Fife Council service manager Neil Finnie said: “Following last year’s incident a full health and safety investigation was carried out.

“It was found that a gap in training and formal risk assessment resulted in the misuse of the kelly kettle.

“Since then we have taken steps to make sure that any staff working with a kelly kettle must have had training in its use and that the proper risk assessment has been carried out.

“A safety alert and updated instructions have also been sent to all schools.”

The children were among a group of 10 youngsters who were taking part in an outdoor cooking class being run by the school after lessons.

Ryan Griffin, pictured, was one of the children to suffer injuries but his mother said “he’s fine”.