The Head of the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Opoku Oware Ampomah, has stated that 35 per cent of all burns recorded in 2014 were the result of gas explosions.
He has, therefore, warned against the use of faulty gas cylinders which could explode since explosions accounted for 44 per cent of deaths at the centre.
“Some of the causes of gas explosions included expired cylinders, loose valves and worn-out tubes on the cylinders,” he added.
Dr Ampomah said this when the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) presented him with the company’s branded souvenirs in Accra yesterday.
The souvenirs included calendars in which he was featured.
Dr Ampomah urged Ghanaians to pay close attention to the dangerous features on their gas cylinders to avoid health and other risks.
He cautioned the public to beware of quack Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) engineers who deceive people into allowing them to repair their cylinders and end up destroying them.
Domestic activities
According to him, 50 per cent of admitted burn cases were children who were victims of domestic activities. He, therefore, cautioned parents to adopt preventive measures against accidents at home.
He added that most of the burns were caused by domestic activities such as boiling of water and soup.
Dr Ampomah said during the harmattan season, people tended to boil water to bathe and for other domestic activities.
He also noted that with the resumption of the load-shedding exercise, parents should be more cautious about the lamps and candles they used and ensure that all candles and lamps were put/switched off before they went to bed to prevent any disaster.
Dr Ampomah appealed to other organisations and stakeholders to assist needy patients, adding that the treatment for burns was very costly.
GCGL response
Presenting the souvenirs, a Senior Corporate Communications Officer at GCGL, Miss Kyerewaa Boateng, lauded Dr Ampomah’s contribution to the health sector.
She said Dr Ampomah was featured in The Mirror last year because of his contribution to the health sector and added that GCGL appreciated people who endeavoured to improve the lives of others.
Source: Daily Graphic
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