December 2018 MHRA Report on Emollient Flammability - Find a freedom of information request

1. We are researchers from Anglia Ruskin University working on the flammability of skin emollient products when soaked into fabric. This work is in collaboration with West Yorkshire, Essex and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, the London Fire Brigade, St Andrews Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns, the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

In light of our work on this matter, we wish to understand how the warnings and advice produced because of our original research are now being implemented across Fire and Rescue Services.

Therefore, please could we request answers to the following based upon the December 2018 MHRA report on emollient flammability:

a) Has this information provided by the MHRA been implemented across your Fire and Rescue Service to advise staff?

b) How has this been implemented? Please also provide details of any future intentions.

c) Has this information provided by the MHRA been implemented across your Fire and Rescue Service to advise the public on how to use emollient skin products safely?

d) How has this been implemented? Please also provide details of any future intentions.

LFR have carried out a great deal of work to support the identified issues with emollient creams and their flammability, and work has been as a result of information shared and gathered over the past 18 months; but not directly as a result of the MHRA report.  Information has been shared by partner agencies and gathered from national updates which has resulted in LFR carrying out work outlined below.

a. LFR’s Community Fire Safety Advocates and operational Crews who conduct our HFSC/Safe and Well visits, have been made aware of the risks of emollients

b. This has been implemented through regular Community Fire Safety Training days, internal communications and Community Fire Safety Crew updates.

c. Information has been promulgated and embedded through a number of Community Fire Safety campaigns, and through collaborative working with our health partners.

d. Through partnership working with health, attending Neighbourhood Team meetings, when delivering Community Fire safety messages/presentations to Community Groups across the County, the regular use of Social Media advising the public on the dangers, and how to use emollient skin products safely.

Future work will include updates to LFR’s Fire Investigation Team and exploration of opportunities to carry out joint/collaborative work with partner agencies.