October 18, 2002

A little knowledge could prevent burns

Many people don't know that the common cooking ingredient
—vanilla extract —is highly flammable and can cause small house fires to accelerate quickly. This little known fact and other information about fire and burn prevention were given to the MGH community during Burn Prevention Week, Oct. 7 to 11. The nursing staff of the MGH Sumner Redstone Burn Unit offered helpful information and advice to patients, visitors and employees at a special information table Oct. 8.

Robin Weingarten, RN, of the MGH Burn Unit on Bigelow 13, right, offers information on how common household items can cause fires.