Campfire safety tips every parent should know

Many people consider bonfires and campfires a quintessential summer and fall activity, but they can come with serious risks. When sitting fireside, it’s crucial to take proper precautions and know what to do in the event of an injury, especially as a parent or caregiver. 

Dr. Ryan Freedman, an emergency medicine physician at Advocate Children’s Hospital, offers the following guidance so you and your child can enjoy bonfires and campfires as safely as possible:

Keep your distance

Do not sit or stand too close to the fire. Also, be mindful of certain conditions that necessitate maintaining even more distance, including wind and fire size. The embers from a fire can travel far, so pay attention to how close they are getting to you or other flammable objects.

Young children do not inherently know to stay back from fire. Make sure you watch them closely and keep them within your reach. Even when a child knows to keep their distance, there is still the possibility of tripping or moving too close to the fire. 

Cook carefully

Hotdogs, s’mores and everything in between can be dangerous to cook over a fire. There are risks of coming into contact with the flames or getting burned on hot cooking equipment. Use cooking utensils with insulated handles to help avoid burns to the hand. Have adults cook over the fire and avoid using any kind of fire accelerants, like lighter fluid. These accelerants can cause flashback, which is when the vapors ignite and fire flares up toward you. 

Never leave your fire

Leaving a fire unattended poses major safety risks. When you are done, make sure you fully put the fire out before walking away or going to bed.  

Be prepared for an emergency

Fire can be very unpredictable, so it’s important to have supplies on hand in the event something goes awry. Keep a stocked first aid kit handy. Apply a cool, wet clean cloth to minor burns or blisters to help the pain subside. Loosely cover the burn with a clean, dry bandage and monitor closely for signs of infection. Follow up with your primary care provider as necessary.

Blistering, charred or blackened skin is a sign someone is seriously burned and should go to an emergency room immediately. As a general rule, if you are unsure if a burn needs medical attention, head to the hospital so a clinical team can make the decision.  

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