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Fire accidents and burns are one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. This study was conducted with the aim of studying the etiology of fire accidents as well as investigating the fire safety standards of both homes and equipment in Iran. Samples included patients with flame burns who consented to answer the questions. Questions covered five areas: patient demographics, epidemiological characteristics of burns, the fire safety status of the home, the fire safety status of the equipment, and the mechanism of the accident. In this study, the mean extent of the burns was 18.07 ± 14.29% of body surface area and was significantly related to the age grouping of the patients. The highest total body surface area (TBSA) was observed in patients between 19 to 39 years. The most common cause of flame injuries was gas explosions (36.81%). The interviews revealed that most of the houses were not equipped with smoke detectors or fire extinguishers. The extent of burns was significantly higher in patients living in unequipped homes (P = 0.047). Cooking equipment was often involved in the accidents (38.1%). Considering the low home fire safety and the role of equipment misuse and damaged equipment use in the occurrence of accidents, it seems that installing fire alarms and firefighting equipment, proper training on how to work with and maintain the equipment, using cooking and heating equipment correctly along with discontinuing use if damaged would all be effective and are highly suggestive to reduce fire injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firefighters are often exposed to high temperatures and by-products of combustion, which can affect their health. In this study, we assessed the impact of acute exposure of firefighters in fire simulators. Twenty male firefighters were exposed to fire simulators, and observed in four phases: pre-exposure (group 0, control) and after the end of the first (group 1), second (group 2), and fourth (group 3) weeks of training. Blood samples were collected and dosed to evaluate the response of the immune, inflammatory (C-reactive protein, IL6, and IL10), and endocrine systems (cortisone, total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, bioavailable testosterone, TSH, and free T4). In groups 0, 1, and 3, a thermographic evaluation was also carried out to study the temperature and body heat flow of the participants. Regarding the inflammatory process, an increase in C-reactive protein and a reduction in IL-10 were observed. With respect to hormonal markers, an increase in cortisol and reduced levels of free T4 and bioavailable testosterone were found after exposure, with recovery of testosterone levels in the final week of training. Thermoregulatory adaptation of the organism has been associated with changes in heat flow in the organism in people subjected to extreme temperatures, with emphasis on the performance of the lower limbs. Our findings demonstrate an inflammatory response with hormonal changes after exposure to fire and an adaptive response of thermal balance, which could aid understanding of the physiology of the human body in extreme situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychiatric hospitals and centers have more complex conditions than other hospitals in responding to emergencies, given the differences in the design of their buildings and in non-structural elements. This is a qualitative study aimed at reviewing and investigating the experiences and challenges faced by psychiatric hospital staff in response to different fire incidents. A phenomenological approach was employed to conduct the study, believing that human experiences and beliefs are substances in phenomena and can be understood and examined. The contents of interviews and focus group discussion (FGD) sessions were extracted and classified into five categories, 14 themes, and 49 sub-categories. Many psychiatric hospitals in Iran are not ready to respond properly to incidents like fires. The study revealed that in order to ensure appropriate management of incidents and disasters in the hospitals, it is necessary to focus on five areas called the 5s framework, which includes structures, staff, supplies (facilities, equipment etc.), sick persons and systems. This framework is proposed to enhance preparedness, reduce vulnerability, and provoke an effective response to incidents in psychiatric hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire safety has become a major issue of public concern in the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, encouraging the Government of Bangladesh and the garment industry to step forward to rebuild consumer confidence. This thesis gathered information on the cost-effectiveness of the protection systems from several garment factories in Bangladesh. A four-step methodology was used in an attempt to adopt a systemic approach to constructing a fire safety management system (FSMS) for an offshore platform which, although the approach is general nowadays, has been applied to the case of the RMG industry. Significant changes have been made in fire safety management in the ready-made garment factories over the past few years. However, fire safety still tends to be analyzed in isolation through all fire loss that affects the garment industry. Fire loss may be seen as a set of 'systematic' failures, not as a result of only one reason. This study proposes an FSMS for the ready-made garment industry. It is hoped that this approach will lead not only to more effective management of fire safety, but also to the more effective management of safety, health and the environment for any organization. This study discussed the problems encountered by the management, and proposed a way to quantitatively evaluate fire risk and identify the cost-effectiveness of undertaking fire safety measures for the RMG sector of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burns in neonates is a unique pathology that poses management challenges, as, besides treating the burn injury, the medical team needs to be familiar with the unique physiology of the newborn. This study aimed to review our center's experience with the management of neonatal burns. A 7-year retrospective study of neonatal burns managed at a tertiary national referral unit in Bucharest, Romania, was performed. Patients were divided into two groups, preterm and term, based on gestational age. Collected data included demographics, treatment, complications and follow-up. Our center managed 13 neonates with burns (5 term and 8 preterm), with a mean age at injury of 8.6 days. All neonatal burns were thermal injuries. For preterm babies, all burns were iatrogenic, consisting of victims of a fire in a Maternity Hospital, while for the term group only one was iatrogenic. Burns were more extensive in the premature group (65% vs. 20% mean TBSA, p=0.0001). All premature patients had associated inhalation injuries. Surgical treatment was indicated for two term patients. Survival rate was 77% and was negatively influenced by inhalation injury, burn shock and TBSA >50%. In conclusion, the majority of hospitalized neonatal burns in Romania were the result of a fire disaster secondary to an infrastructure deficiency. Their management is complex, posing specific challenges, and needs to be led by a multidisciplinary team that can ensure an individualized continuum of acute burn care and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire disasters are one of the most common technological disasters in Iran. These disasters have killed many people and resulted in significant economic loss. The "Plasco" building fire in 2017 is one example of these catastrophic disasters, when most of Iran was affected by its tragic news. Regarding the increasing number of risk factors for fire disasters, we aimed to study future scenarios for such disasters in the country. The present study is a futuristic study with an exploratory approach that uses an intuitive logic scenario development approach. We used document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and the Delphi technique to identify driving forces and develop scenario stories, and finally those scenario stories were validated. In the document analysis phase, 22 documents were identified and analysed. After collecting information related to documents and analysing ten interviews, 41 of the driving forces were identified. By drawing the scenario matrix, four alternative scenarios for the future of fire disasters were developed. Two dimensions for scenario development were the correct application of fire prevention laws and access to driving technologies. Policymakers can concentrate on these key factors for best planning in the mitigation of fire disasters. In addition, studying scenarios can help managers and officials to better develop strategic plans for disaster risk reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This congress shared 3 main topics: inflammation - especially in the rehabilitation phase, fires and smoke inhalation, and flaps in sequelae. The first is reported by Valérie Chauvineau, the second by Ronan Le Floch and the third by Louise Pasquesoone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a judicial inquiry, the forensic doctor is frequently required to examine the hospitalized fire victim. He has to produce a certificate on the burns, defining their origin, seriousness and prognosis. The expert assessment of serious burn victims consists in an overall evaluation of functional and psychological sequelae, and can be conducted only after the long period of treatment needed for them to heal. The expert must know the forensic rules concerning the specific features of sequelae that follow a cutaneous burn injury. The forensic doctor can intervene where a body is discovered, and the aim of the autopsy is to check if burns were the cause of death. The most common lesions observed are serious thermal burns and they are frequently associated with inhalation of fumes. Often the body is carbonized to conceal a homicide therefore it is crucial that postmortem results are compared with the police investigation data. Due to modifications to the body brought about by fire and charring, a specific protocol for identification is required, especially in the event of a disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]