Burn surgeons warn about the use of accelerants on outdoor fires

“Accelerants poured on fires are a big problem, and cause a lot of the injuries we see,” explains Dr. George Peltier, reconstructive surgeon at HCMC’s Burn Center. “During damp conditions, or if people just want to get a large fire going, they will often use an accelerant. But gasoline can vaporize  and explode, and the injuries can be absolutely devastating.”  

Already this year, the Burn Center has seen a number of patients for burns related to using accelerants on fires.

On the most recent podcast of Healthy Matters Dr. David Hilden is joined by burn surgeons Dr. Peltier and Dr. Ryan Fey.  They discuss some of the treatment options for burn patients, including surgery and skin grafting. The doctors also offer safety tips on how to avoid some common burn injuries. 

Join Dr. David Hilden every Sunday morning at 7:30 AM for Healthy Matters on WCCO Radio AM 830 and WLTE FM 102.9!