Emollients & Fire Safety Awareness One workstream is Home Oxygen, National HOS group. Working with LFB, W.Yorks & ARU on emollient flammability Aim of presentation to increase awareness of emollients and an E-learning package that can be used by staff to identify fire risks and request visits from ECFRS. Watch Manager Andre Turner Technical Fire Safety

Why does this concern you ? Offer question to group Why does this concern you? (praise responses) ECFRS looked at all fire fatalities and serious injury for 2013-17 Total 16 = 14 fatals 50% over 65yrs ageing population and associated health issues – mental health, mobility, general health, sensory loss Interrogation showed that 6 lived alone – living alone and known to social care and in receipt of care (Click graph) Importantly – ECFRS had no engagement with them to reduce the risk or influence behaviour change 2/3 fatals in 2018 receiving care, 65+ Risks with elderly - lack of mobility smoking – cant stop, wont stop - only pleasure Mental health sensory loss – eyes/hearing O2 patient Treated with emollient to reduce/minimise sores, O2 patients use emollients around nose/mouth as 02 dries out, skin conditions

Emollient Content Water content  Paraffin product – soft white paraffin, soft white paraffin + 50% liquid paraffin  Emulsifying Wax – petroleum wax with detergent  Used to keep moisture in skin by forming a barrier – we knew that  Predominantly lotion, creams and ointment Paraffin content higher in ointments but lower in lotions, reverse for water content Contents Water content – non flammable Paraffin product – typically soft white paraffin, soft white paraffin + 50% liquid paraffin is by-product of petrol – flammable Emulsifying wax – aids the mixing of water and paraffin – flammable but not readily ignitable, can be vegetable wax. Treated with detergent to reduce infection Lotions higher water content – body heat evaporates water leaving paraffin residue Paraffin residue is the important part we are concerned with

Collaboration ARU WYFRS Working with ARU, LFB and W.Yorks FRS, involving British Assoc of Dermatologists Study into flammability of emollients Standard process of holding materials to provide results ¼ teaspoon of emollient applied uniformly with fingerprint roller – Some interesting STATS have been produced that relate to fabrics with contamination / no contamination. ARU Non-treated piece of cotton Video (explain flame height and speed) Cotton after 24hr soaking Video Blank cotton on LHS, Cotton left for 50 days on RHS Video (Flame tip 11cm away from 180 thread count pillow) ¼ teaspoon of paraffin based cream applied and allowed to dry 24hrs. • No contamination just over 60 sec ignition time • E45 contamination 6 sec ignition time Preliminary report awaiting publication. WYFRS (skip through video due to length) Test 1 – laundered clean control sample Test 2 un-laundered found at scene with paraffin based contaminant Test 3 contaminated over 7 days with 70g cream with 21% paraffin content Test 4 contaminated 7 days 70g ointment 74.5% paraffin Test 5 Contaminated 7 days, 70g cream 21% paraffin, washed at 40degress in non-bio liquid Test 6 contaminated 7 days 70g ointment 74.5% paraffin, washed 40 degrees non-bio liquid Highlight dangers – speed of flame, height of flame Looking at washing methods as petroleum ointment melt at approx. 63°C - washing at 40C

How can you help? TSA E-learn Benefits Compliance with Care Certificate Increase staff awareness of fire risks Reduced risk to staff Sense of value by staff How can you help ? Simple answer is by ensuring teams are aware of risks Your teams enter properties daily, carrying out RA when they enter for clients but also self. Companies have a duty of care to ensure staff are safe, so enhance that with this knowledge How ? TSA E-learn Refer to ECFRS Benefits Care Certificate standard 13 Health & Safety 13.7 Carers will promote fire safety by 13.7a explaining how to prevent fires from starting or spreading 13.7b Describing what to do in the event of a fire Staff aware of fire risks and can provide some fire safety advice, also aware of referral process and what a visit contains Reduced risk to staff as fire risks acted upon and recorded Staff feel valued and empowered to help occupant reduce risks

Available support Checklist Essex County Fire and Rescue website (under Home Fire Safety) Checklist available which is a checklist for anyone to use. Provides tick box to determine increased fire risk from smoking, air mattress, wiring, candles, cooking etc Reaction to alarm or fire – mental health, sensory, cognitive Reduced ability to escape – mobility, vision, capacity, hoarding Location (if any) of heat/smoke alarms Location (if any) of CO alarms Referral methods dependant on who is completing form. Basic fire safety in home advice. ECFRS Offer 2 levels – standard/basic Home safety visit – install alarms, provide advice enhanced visit – trained technicians, falls prevention, dementia friends, deaf/blind aware, J9 DA, mental health - provide alarms, sensory alarms, CP advice, request falls prevention equipment direct

Referral methods Refer to FRS for person centred visit – online HFSV@essex-fire.gov.uk 0300 303 0088

Screenshot of content in TSA e-learn Developed with LFB Beginning set the scene with fire fatalities in Essex and how all receiving care. Working together we can reduce these occurrences. Your staff acknowledge the risk and gain consent to notify ECFRS to contact and visit. 5 case studies whereby all visited by carers with differing fire risks, some had alarms and visits from FRS, Others did not.