Dangers of Playing With Fire

It is never too soon to teach your children about the dangers of playing with fire. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children under the age of 5 are especially at risk to suffer injury or death from fire. But teenagers and adults can also suffer serious consequences. Recklessness around fire can result in property damage, legal repercussions, serious injury and death.

  1. First-Degree Burns

    • There are three types of burns: first, second and third. A first-degree burn is painful and it will redden the skin, but that's the extent of it. The Mayo Clinic recommends placing the affected area under cold running water, covering it with sterile gauze and taking an over the counter pain reliever.

    Second-Degree Burns

    • Second-degree burns are more serious. In a second-degree burn, the first layer of the skin has been completely burned through and the second layer has been damaged. This causes painful blistering. If the burn is smaller than 3 inches in diameter, you can treat it the same way as a first-degree burn. If it's bigger, the Mayo Clinic explains, you need medical help.

    Third-Degree Burns

    • Third-degree burns are very serious. All seven layers of the skin have been completely burned through. Even the flesh or bone may have been charred. Third-degree burns usually require hospitalization. Victims may require intravenous fluids, placement in a hyperbaric chamber and skin grafts.

    Smoke Inhalation

    • Burn injuries are not the only consequence of playing with fire. Smoke and toxic gases can be just as deadly. Smoke contains many compounds that irritate mucous membranes and disrupt the lungs' lining. This can lead to the airways' swelling until they fully collapse. Fire creates carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, deadly gases that can kill in minutes. Depending on the burning substances, you can also find other gases like hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulfide.

    Flammable Liquids

    • Playing with flammable liquids such as gasoline poses special dangers. A burning liquid will spread fire quickly, unlike a solid object that's on fire. In addition, burning liquids are much harder to extinguish than burning solids. Some solid substances like Styrofoam and plastic become liquids when they burn.

    Fireworks

    • Consumer fireworks are not toys. Like all combustibles, they must be handled with special care. Read the instructions carefully, and never hold a lit firecracker in your hand. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, fireworks killed 13 people and injured 8,500 in 1998. Boys aged 10 to 14 make up the highest-risk group for fireworks-related injuries. The most common injuries are to the hands, face and eyes.

    Property Damage

    • It doesn't take long for a small fire to unleash its full destructive potential. According to the Fairview, Oklahoma, fire department, an interior fire can reach a temperature of 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit in only 3 1/2 minutes. A mere 212 degrees is enough to kill people. The heat can jump from room to room and reach 300 degrees in a matter of minutes.

    Legal Consequences

    • Playing with fire can also have legal consequences. These consequences depend on the age of the child, the circumstances and the damage. If a child creates a fire that causes property damage or injures people, the child's parents will be responsible for the damage. When the child turns 18, that responsibility may be transferred to the child. Other consequences may include probation or jail.

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