Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
‘W Cape is ready to deal with fire season’
THE number of burn victims is expected to increase as we approach fire season.
The Western Cape Health Department has confirmed that 1 334 people have been admitted to hospital across the province due to burn injuries.
The burns sustained by these patients were so severe that 188 had to receive plastic surgery or skin grafting.
A fire can destroy lives and it can impact your physical appearance and cause disability.
This is why firefighters and health officials are advising people to not act as heroes when a fire breaks out inside the home but to seek help immediately and to find your way out safely.
Provincial department of health spokesperson Mark Van Der Heever said prevention was better than the cure when it came to burn injuries.
Van der Heever advised that cooling the wound soon after exposure and impact was important in preventing severe damage.
He said they had specialised units around Cape Town to deal with fire injuries and that since the beginning of the year more than 1 000 patients had been treated and that many had required plastic surgery.
“Since January, to date, 1 334 patients have been admitted to hospitals across the province with burn injuries.
“Skin grafting and plastic surgery will depend on the amount of burns sustained and the degree.
“But at a hospital like Tygerberg, which admitted 181 patients during this year, 99% of the patients required plastic surgery or skin grafting.
“There are specialised facilities to manage severe burns, such as at Red Cross War Memorial and Tygerberg Hospital.”
“Cooling of burn wounds is very important because it removes latent heat out of the tissues and prevents the wounds from going deeper. It is recommended that cooling with running tap water around 15-17°C is done for 20 minutes, while avoiding hypothermia.
“After removing burning clothes and cooling for 20 minutes, they can cover the wound with glad wrap or a wet towel until they reach a medical facility.”
He said after-care of wounds was important and that if a wound was severe medical help from a specialist is vital.
“Superficial burns, like sunburn, there is no specific therapy needed. Pain control and cooling help. “Moisturise the skin.
“For partial thickness burns (superficial and mid depths – blisters and pink to pale white wounds) – a modern skin substitute is best. Cutimed Sorbact is recommended as the most cost-effective.
“If it does not heal in 14 days the person must be referred to a burn specialist or plastic surgeon for an opinion.
“Deep partial (yellow moist) and full thickness (dry leathery/can be any colour, typically brown or black) burns must be medically treated immediately.”
City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said it was important to try to escape from a burning building or structure.
“Firstly, get everyone out and call emergency services on 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.
“Use the available emergency exits or stairways and try to move away from the fire.”
Wouter Kriel, spokesperson for MEC Anton Bredell, Department of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Western Cape government, said: “There are 30 firefighting bases, as well as several volunteer firefighting outfits in the province. These organisations are staffed by more than 3 000 firefighters who need to be co-ordinated, often at very short notice and under difficult and dangerous conditions.
“Western Cape Disaster Management Centre, in partnership with the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands Municipality, and SANParks, will have access to 24 planes and helicopters this season.
“We are preparing for up to three aerial missions per day during the height of the summer.
“This strategy has resulted in a historic success rate of more than 90% of fires being extinguished within the first hour of being reported.
“Yes, aerial support is expensive, but it is much cheaper than the damage that might be caused by a runaway wildfire.”