The Occurrence and Seasonal Variation of Accelerant-Related Burn Injuries in Central Florida

Abstract

Accidental burn injuries result in significant economic and public health burdens. The inappropriate use of gasoline and other accelerants has been identified in many studies as dangerous, yet it remains an all-too-common practice resulting in a significant number of injuries annually. Florida's unique climate permits outdoor recreational and maintenance activities, such as burning yard debris and other trash, throughout the year. Additionally, the hurricane season, lasting from June 1 though November 30, produces large amounts of waste in its wake. The purpose of this study was to examine the seasonal pattern of occurrence and develop an understanding of factors related to accelerant-related burn injuries with the goal of prevention. This nonexperimental research involved a retrospective quantitative observational study of data stored in the National Trauma Registry database. All burn patients admitted to the Tampa General Regional Burn Center as inpatients between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005, were included. As with previous studies on the occurrence of accelerant related injuries, young men were much more likely to suffer this type of injury. The hurricane season correlates with an increased number of accelerant related burn injuries, which differs somewhat from the seasonal variations in other regions. The size and severity of accelerant-related injuries varies significantly, as does the length of hospital stay. Accelerant use is frequently associated with trash/brush-related accidents. Hurricane seasons can produce an inordinately large amount of debris and therefore are related with an increased incident in this type of burn injury. The results of this study support the development of a community-based educational program directed at burn injury prevention, with special attention to the implications of the hurricane season.