A Burning Question
Are people today so out of touch with outdoor experiences that maybe they should just stay inside for their own safety? Gosh, I hope not or we won’t be in business very long. To prevent pollution, accidents, injuries and other fire related tragedies a different kind of fire education may be needed in schools and in the media today.
Fire Safety Week finds lots of information in the hands of school children. The kids come home with coloring books, fire evacuation route plans and stories of visits with local firefighters. While this information is great there needs to be a discussion or warning with regards to what should or should not be done in or around an open fire.
Accidents can happen anytime but many of these accidents could be prevented. A burning marshmallow on a stick is flung off onto someone’s face as they attempt to put the flame out. A person plunges into a campfire as they are goofing off with friends nearby. Gasoline is thrown onto a debris pile and explodes or burning trash from a barrel starts a fire in a nearby field.
People need to be taught that fires can be dangerous and are not for burning garbage. There is a large percentage of the population that doesn’t realize it is not ok to burn garbage, not even in a burn barrel. Burn barrels are for vegetative materials and can only be used in normal conditions from 6pm until 8am.
Burning household trash can not only cause pollution but also health problems. Some materials release toxins when burned and when inhaled these can cause respiratory problems, throat irritations or greater risk of cancer. Common sense no longer includes outdoor common sense and these things need to be taught to the public.
It isn’t enough to teach Stop, Drop and Roll to school children these days. Adults and children alike need to know what is ok and what is not ok in the way of fires. You can find out more information about health risks related to burning at this informative website.