Diamond Creek woman part of spike in burns patients at Alfred Hospital
A Diamond Creek woman has spoken about the terrifying moment fire “exploded” into her face and set her hair and clothes alight while she was doing a simple household task. And, after a spike in lockdown burn cases, she is warning others to be careful.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Diamond Creek woman who suffered burns to eight per cent of her body after an accident lighting her wood heater is warning others to be careful around fire.
Andrea, who didn’t want her surname used, said she was rushing to light the fire on a cold August night when the accident happened.
“I put accelerant which was methylated spirits which I have been using for 20 years,” she said.
“But there must have been a small flame already in the fireplace so when I opened the door and put the accelerant in it just sort of exploded into my face and I think the bottle of methylated spirits exploded in my hand as well.
“My hair caught fire, my jumper, my chest got burnt and it went from there to my jeans, but my jeans did a good job (in protecting my legs).
“Many people ask if things would have been different if there had been someone around to help me but there could have been 10 people around – the speed with which fire destroys our fragile human skin is unbelievable.
“It was just seconds and the consequences are quite dire.”
An ambulance was called and paramedics put Andrea in the shower before she was rushed to
The Alfred by helicopter.
She spent two and a half weeks in the intensive care unit, and doctors put a skin graft on her left hand, before she returned home.
But she had to go back to hospital again shortly after for another week and a half, after suffering an infection.
She said the accident had been life-changing.
“It changes your attitude about how quickly things can go wrong and have a huge consequence,” she said.
“What I’m worried about is when COVID eases off and we have parties left right and centre and bonfires.
“Be very careful around whatever heat source you are near.”
Andrea’s story is one of many burns specialists at The Alfred have seen during lockdown.
From June to September, there has been a 15 per cent increase in burns related presentations at the hospital.
Alfred Health burns nurse practitioner Hana Menezes said the easing of restrictions and the improving weather could create the perfect storm for burns related injuries.
“Last time restrictions eased to the point people were allowed to head out and go camping, we had a huge influx in recreational type injuries, classically around campfires,” Ms Menezes said.
She said adding accelerants to fires wasn’t worth the risk of serious injury or death.
“We hear time and time again that people have done these things hundreds of times and they’ve gotten away with it … then on a random day they learn how flammable accelerants are and what they can do to human skin,” she said
“It’s just not worth the risk. The fact so many people are being referred to ICU indicates how big and serious these burns can be.”
MORE NEWS: CAR SMASHES THROUGH BRIAR HILL FLORIST’S WINDOW