At the end of July the MHRA, in partnership with the National Fire Chiefs Council and others, launched a campaign to raise awareness of the risk of severe burns arising from the use of emollients. Although the risk has been known about for many years, this campaign has provided new resources that make the risks clearer and offer practical advice on how to minimise them. 

Problems arise when emollient residues build up on fabrics (e.g. clothing; bedding), resulting in  an effective fire accelerant, increasing the speed of ignition and intensity of the fire. This accelerant effect reduces significantly the time available to act to extinguish the fire before serious and even fatal burns are sustained. The details are set out in a Drug Safety Update, and a guidance document and video aimed at patients.

Emollients are a very effective component of treatment for eczema and other skin conditions, so it is important that patients are properly informed about using them safely and not frightened off. 

Patients should be asked if they normally smoke so that safety advice can be reinforced and smoking cessation support offered if necessary. A patient information leaflet is available from the MHRA that covers all the practical points.