The Dangers of Flammable Dressings – A Video Presentation

Timothy Studley¹, Nandakumaran Kandamany¹,
¹Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Abstract

Background
When utilising hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct treatment, there are often strict dressing limitations based on the theoretical combustion risk in a high concentration, high pressure oxygen environment. No consideration has been given to the safety and combustibility of certain dressings at standard atmospheric oxygen concentrations. We present our rigorous scientific study for entertainment purposes.

Methods
An assortment of dressings were tested for flammability at atmospheric oxygen levels, and then interactions with assorted common garden, household and medical substances were assessed for safety. Almost no safety measures were taken, and minimal care was utilised when handling flammable or oxidising materials to simulate a real-world scenario. All tests were filmed, and entertaining results were saved. Our reasonable request to ignite dressings within the hyperbaric chamber was denied by our local unit.

Results
When burned at 21% oxygen, Jelonet was inflammable. Other dressings tested were low to moderately flammable. When exposed to various mixtures of common household or medical chemicals, such as fertilizers, cleaning chemicals and baking ingredients, all dressings became extremely flammable and at times would spontaneously combust without an ignition source.

Conclusion
Whilst we were not able to test dressings within the hyperbaric chamber, we have shown that all dressings tested can in fact be extremely dangerous outside of the chamber, in room air, when exposed to some common substances, and pose a risk of severe burns or death. The lack of dressing-related injuries reported in the literature is likely because no witnesses have ever survived.

Biography

Tim is an unaccredited plastic surgery registrar from Tasmania. During his time at the Royal Hobart Hospital he gained experience with burns management and burns surgery within the Tasmanian Burns Service, and looks forwards to continuing to provide quality burns care in his future career.