Posted by Vlad
on September 3, 2009, 7:04 am
Do read the labels in your child's clothing.
Wool, silk, linen burn but do not melt.
Some artificial fabrics burn fast and melt into the skin. Debridement is no fun. That is, the doctor tears off your child's skin fused with melted fabric.
http://missourifamilies.org/features/materialarticles/feature7.htm
http://www.teonline.com/knowledge-centre/fabric-identification.html
for example
Acrylic, Modacrylic, Polyacrylic
Burned Acrylic Made from natural gas and petroleum, they flare up at match-touch, shrink from flame, burn rapidly with hot sputtering flame and drip dangerously. Beads are hard, dark, and with irregular shapes. They continue melting after flame is removed and are self-extinguishing. When burning, they give out strong acrid, fishy odor. Although no ash is left but their black smoke and fume are hazardous.
A gas explosion threw me several feet, skinned my knees and charred my pants. The medic said, " You have second degree burns on that leg. Lucky those pants are cotton. Artificial fabrics melt into your skin and I'd have to debride you."
106
Message Thread:
« Back to thread