{{org_field_logo}}

{{org_field_name}}

---

Fire Risks from Use of Emollients Policy

Introduction

This policy has been produced in response to the concerns about the fire risks associated with the use of emollients and creams, in line with the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 to provide safe, person-centred care.

Concerns have arisen from a relatively small but serious number of incidents in which people sustained burns and, in some cases, fatal injuries from fires in which emollient use was a factor.

In 2018, the CQC was notified of an incident in a care home, and the fire authority issued an enforcement notice requiring the provider to ensure risk assessments reflect safe use and storage of emollients. According to the CQC, people should continue to use emollients but to avoid serious injury, they must avoid any naked flames. See Issue 3: Fire Risk from Use of Emollient Creams for more information.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a safety alert in 2008, updated in 2016 and again in 2018, which extended warnings about the risk of severe and fatal burns from emollients. This includes all paraffin-based emollients regardless of paraffin concentration: those that do not contain paraffin and paraffin-free emollients, such as those made with natural oils, and those that contain other flammable constituents.

Fire risks are significant in care services because of the widespread use of such emollients and creams for treating a range of conditions — dry skin, psoriasis, eczema, etc. Some creams might be prescribed but many can be bought over the counter. The risk can also be found in people’s own homes and in care homes.

Emollients are easily transferred from skin to clothing and bedding and there can be reactions between emollients and the fibres of dressings, clothing and items such as towels used to carry out personal care.

Whilst emollients are not flammable in themselves or when applied to skin, a build-up of residue on fabrics can act as an accelerant, potentially increasing the speed of ignition and intensity of fire. This significantly reduces time available to act to put out the fire before serious or fatal burns are sustained and may be harder to extinguish than a “clean” fabric fire.

When items impregnated with emollients are near a naked flame or source of ignition, such as a lighted cigarette, they are at increased risk of fire and any person who smokes must be advised not to do so when using these preparations and information and explanation provided of associated fire risk.

It is the responsibility of {{org_field_name}} to report any fire incidents with emollients or other skin care products to MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme.

Policy Statement

To reduce the fire risks associated with the use of emollients, the service is adopting the following policies.

1. Every person using emollients, particularly where the use is extensive and the person or people about them smoke, will have a corresponding risk assessment regarding their use which will be recorded on the care plan. Support on smoking cessation will be offered and individuals encouraged to consider safer options, such as e-cigarettes, which should also be risk assessed.
2. Risks identified should be reported to the line manager and a fire risk assessment form completed and documented in the person’s care plan. Increased risks are associated with people who use air pressure mattresses, piped oxygen or oxygen cylinders.
3. The person will also be provided with appropriate verbal and or written information regarding general potential fire risks associated with emollients.
4. The person responsible for medicines administration will, in line with medicines reconciliation procedures, regularly check who is using emollients and ensure their use is highlighted in their respective care plans as a potential fire risk.
5. The service will keep a list of who is using what products and to what extent and regularly audit it with other medicines audits.
6. The service keeps an updated list of all emollients.
7. All emollients held by the service are safely stored away from fire hazards, heat and light.
8. With emollient use, people involved will be advised not to smoke, use naked flames (or be near people who are smoking or using naked flames) or go near anything that may cause a fire while emollients are in contact with their medical dressings or clothing.
9. Where extensive use is made of these products, people using them will be advised or asked to change their dressings, clothing, towels and bedding regularly. Fabrics will be washed at the highest temperature recommended by the manufacturer with plenty of detergent to reduce the build-up of emollient. This service is aware, whilst washing at high temperatures reduces build-up, it does not remove it completely and there may still be a risk.
10. Tumble drying should be avoided where there is a potential emollient build-up on the items being dried.
11. Precautions, such as fire-retardant bedding or other materials, will be considered.
12. Fabric of furniture, cushions and blankets may also be a source of fire risk so will be regularly cleaned according to manufacturers recommendations.
13. The discarded materials will then be safely stored away from any fire hazards pending cleaning or laundry operations.
14. Care staff applying such products (in line with medication administration procedures) or who are aware of their use are instructed to check the risks that might be present.
15. Fire safety information will be displayed prominently in each area where the person may be treated with significant quantities of emollient.
16. Premises fire safety procedures should include regular assessments of the fire risks from the storage and use of emollients and the consequences of such use in terms of the risks from the impregnation of furniture, clothing, towels and bedding, etc.
17. People using emollients should be advised to avoid cooking and any naked flames or heat source, such as, gas, halogen, electric bar or open fire whilst wearing clothing or dressings that have been in contact with emollients or emollient treated skin.
    Other potential sources of ignition in the person’s environment, such as glass or crystal doorknobs and ornaments, should also be identified and removed or covered.
18. The person’s family will be communicated with to ensure they are aware, if the person using services is out on a visit to their home or another environment, of associated fire risks.
19. Any incident involving a person or staff member burnt or injured because of fire caused directly or indirectly from the use of emollients will be reported to the appropriate authorities, eg the:
    a. local safeguarding authority
    b. local fire service
    c. care regulator under its notification procedures
    d. HSE under RIDDOR
    e. National Patient Safety Agency.
20. The service will ensure any fire incidents involving emollients are reported to MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.

Training

The service ensures that all staff are aware of the fire risks associated with emollients and receive the appropriate supervision where any risks have been identified.

---

Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}

Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}

Next review date: this policy is reviewed annually (every 12 months). When needed, this policy is also updated in response to changes in legislation, regulation, best practices, or organisational changes.

Copyright ©2024 {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved