Community Corner

Learn How to Safely Cozy Up to Your Outside Fire Pit

Silver Cross Hospital offers fire pit safety tips to avoid harmful injuries.

By Tracy Simons, Silver Cross Hospital

According to the National Association of Realtors, outdoor fire pits are one of the new, hot trends to lure home buyers to purchase property. However, before you gather your family and friends around these stylish campfires, be sure to learn how to safely prepare your fire to avoid any injuries.

“Since fire pit-use is much more common around this time of year as the night temperatures begin to cool down, there is a higher concentration of fire-related injuries,” explains Dr. Heather Taras, emergency medicine physician at the Silver Cross Emergency Care Center in Homer Glen. “People need to be mindful that they must take precautions when entertaining around a fire pit in order to avoid any accidents.”

“The upper body is where most fire pit-related injuries occur,” says Dr. Taras.  “The arms, hands, fingers, and face are most frequently injured.”

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Follow these tips to ensure you and your guests enjoy your fire pit safely!

1. Brush up on Local Ordinances

Before buying your fire pit, make sure you understand your city or county’s regulations regarding using them in your back yard. Some cities prohibit fire pit use completely and large fines may be imposed if you don't follow the law.

2. Become familiar with how to operate the fire pit

Read the manual that comes with your fire pit and follow the instructions. Call the manufacturer if you have any questions.

3. Find the ideal location

Position your fire pit on a level concrete or stone surface that's at least 10 feet from your house, trees, and anything flammable. Unless the owner's manual says it's okay, don't put the pit on a grassy surface, wood deck, or enclosed area, as fumes from it can be harmful without proper ventilation.

4. Utilize good fuel

Be sure to always burn dry wood that was cut at least six months earlier.  Also to keep sparks from flying, make sure logs are no longer than three-quarters of the fire pit's diameter, so burning pellets don’t spill out.

5. Safely ignite the flames

Before lighting an outdoor fire, check the weather forecast. Avoid windy conditions that can blow embers and use screens for protection from wind to prevent sparks from flying out. Then start your fire small, and only use the recommended fire starters like dry wood. Never use lighter fluid, gasoline, or kerosene to light a fire.

6. Keep children away from flames

Never leave the fire unattended. Children should not be allowed near fire pits which should be adult-supervised at all times.

7. Have a plan to snuff out the fire 

Use safety gloves when handling a hot fire pit. Keep a bucket of sand, a fire extinguisher, or a garden water hose nearby in case the fire gets too hot to handle. 

Emergency Care Nearby

Even with the utmost caution, fire pit-related injuries can still occur.  It is good to know peace of mind is just minutes away at the Silver Cross Emergency Care Center located at 143rd and Bell Rd. in Homer Glen.  Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the Center is staffed with Silver Cross Hospital’s board certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses. Patients can check wait times—if any at www.silvercross.org for both the Homer Glen Emergency Care Center as well as Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. For more information, call (708) 364-6004. 

Located in the same building is the Silver Cross Health Center offering MRI, CT, X-ray, Ultrasound, EKG and laboratory services. A physician’s order is required. To schedule an appointment for a test, call (815) 300-7076.  There are also several primary and specialty physician offices and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross. For a referral to a physician at the Homer Glen medical center, call 1-888-660-HEAL or visit www.silvercross.org


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