Overview
- St John Ambulance published its advisory on Tuesday to help people respond to common autumn celebration injuries and to remind communities that volunteers will attend organised public events but not private gatherings.
- For burns the charity advises moving the person away from danger, cooling the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes, removing jewellery only if it is not stuck to the skin, and loosely covering the wound with a sterile dressing or clean cling film.
- For eye injuries the advice is not to rub the eye, to gently rinse with clean water only if the object is loose, and to seek urgent medical attention if an object is embedded or if there is significant pain or vision change.
- For smoke inhalation the guidance says to move the affected person to fresh air if safe, keep them calm, monitor breathing and responsiveness, and call 999 for breathing difficulty, confusion, unresponsiveness or other worrying symptoms.
- The charity urges prevention by following manufacturer instructions for fireworks, supervising children, keeping a safe distance from flames, having first-aid supplies and running water on hand, and says acting quickly can reduce hospital visits and improve outcomes.