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A senior coroner has issued a call for immediate action and better public awareness after a tragic fire claimed the life of an 89-year-old grandfather.
James Rownsley, a man with limited mobility, died in his home in Mexborough after his clothing ignited when he was near a Calor gas heater.
An inquest at the Sheffield Medico-Legal Centre concluded that the presence of emollient cream on his clothing was a 'significant factor' in his death.
The inquest heard that the creams, which are absorbed into clothing and bedding, cannot be removed by washing.
A fire investigator told the coroner that the ignition risks of these creams are not 'fully appreciated' by medical health professionals.
Mr.
Rownsley's family also stated that the general public is unaware of the dangers.
In a report to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), Senior Coroner Nicola Mundy emphasized that the fire risk of emollient creams needs to be better understood by both health professionals and the public.
She noted that the risk seems to be heightened in situations where elderly people or those on lower incomes are using open flames to heat their homes as a way to reduce central heating costs.
The coroner also highlighted a discrepancy in official death records, stating that while fire services report 50 deaths involving the creams since 2020, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency only has a record of 15.
A group manager for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue's community safety team, Chris Tyler, explained that while the creams themselves are not flammable, a buildup of residue on fabrics can make them 'even more flammable' and advised anyone using such products to keep away from fire, naked flames, or other heat sources.