Fire Safety
Clothing
Nothing is worse than having a doctor rip synthetic fabric fused into your skin out of a third degree burn. It's best to wear
natural fibers (cotton, wool, leather etc.) or nothing at all when spinning fire. Tight fitting clothes also help
to keep any personal fires (human torch) from breathing and intensifying. Even though a fabric may be listed as fire resistant does
not mean it won't catch fire and burn you.
Fuel containers
Empty paint cans work well. You can get them at most hardware stores. The lid should ALWAYS be closed when you are not dipping.
Lids can be closed over burning fuel containers to smother flames. Remember to keep the fuel area well away from the performance area and the crowd.
Spotter
Never spin fire alone. Always have a designated safety person coached and ready to handle an out of control fire situation.
The designated safety person(s) should also be in charge of the fuel area and crowd control while you are performing.
Fire blanket or a damp towel
This is a MUST! Your designated safety person(s) should be equipped with one and ready to snuff out runaway flames at a moments notice.
The safety should first yell out "FIRE!" and where the fire is located (arm, leg, chest etc.) then wait for the
performer to acknowledge the safety person before putting out the flame.
Performers should always be close to their designated safety and listen for their commands.
A good fire blanket can be found here.
ABC Fire Extinguisher
By their very nature, working with volatile fuels can quickly lead to an out of control situation. ALWAYS
have an ABC rated fire extinguisher ready for the unexpected.
MSDS
(M)aterial (S)afety (D)ata (S)heet. Wherever you get your fuel, you should also be able to pick up an MSDS.
These are quite handy for technical information about the fuels auto ignition, flash point and toxic additives.
Read it, research it and understand it!
Equipment check
Before spinning fire, always check your equipment for wear damage. Quick links may come undone, split rings
may bend open, wicks may detach and finger loops may tear. Launching a fire ball into the crowd is far from professional.
Know what to do!
When playing with fire it is inevitable that eventually you or someone around you will get burned. You MUST
be able to identify the severity of the accident and know the immediate treatment required.
First degree burn symptoms:
Reddish skin without blisters or broken skin.Treatment
Run under cold water.Second degree burn symptoms:
Reddish skin with unopened blisters.Treatment
Run under cold water.Third degree burn symptoms:
Reddish or charred broken skin.Treatment
Apply a dry cloth, do NOT run under cold water or remove any fused matter. Seek immediate emergency medical attention.
This type of burn can easily lead to a life threatening infection.Fuel ingestion:
Just because you might not drink it doesn't mean someone else won't. Fire breathers run the greatest risk of fuel
ingestion. This is where an MSDS is essential. If the situation is severe or even moderate, immediate medial
attention is required, often involving a stomach pump. You should supply the doctors with the exact contents
of the fuel that was ingested. In most cases it is NOT a good idea to induce vomiting. Mild ingestions require
observation for at least two days.Blowback!:
Again, fire breathers run the risk of fire racing back into their face, hair and possibly even their lungs. If a
fire breather appears to be stunned and out of breath, this is probably the case. Seek IMMEDIATE medical attention.
Even if the fire breather regains their breath and seems ok, there is a good chance they are in serious trouble.
Short of being burned alive, this is probably the most life threatening situation. The fire will remove all oxygen
from the lungs causing immediate loss of breath, and may also burn the lungs reducing their capabilities. Burned
lungs will eventually fill with liquid and often lead to deadly infections. That's why I rarely if ever breathe fire.For further information on fire safety, check out NAFAA. |
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