MHRA and NFCC issue winter emollient fire safety advice
Millions of us reach for skin creams when the cold bites. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) are reminding you that while emollient creams are not flammable, the residue they leave on fabrics can make a small flame turn into a fast‑spreading fire.
Here’s the simple science you can share in class or at home. Cream transfers from skin to clothing, bedding, bandages and soft furnishings. Once soaked in, these fabrics can ignite more easily and burn more rapidly if they meet a flame, a cigarette or sit too close to open fires, electric bar heaters, gas or halogen heaters.
Your first step is distance from flames. If clothing or bedding has been in contact with emollients, avoid smoking indoors and keep away from candles, matches and open fires. Contaminated fabrics can catch quickly and help a fire spread through a room before you have time to react.
Your second step is safer warmth. Sit at least 1 metre from open fires and heaters. That extra space buys time if a sleeve, blanket or dressing has residue on it, and it reduces the chance that radiant heat will start smouldering.
Your third step is laundry that actually helps. Wash clothing, bedding and reusable dressings regularly at the highest temperature allowed on the care label. Washing reduces build‑up but does not remove it completely, so keep the other precautions in place even after clean‑ups.
Who needs this message most? People who use emollients daily, anyone who smokes, those with limited mobility, and households where bandages or dressings are used. As NFCC emollient lead Chris Bell put it, “Our crews have seen how quickly fires can escalate when skin creams are involved.” Carers, family members and healthcare professionals can help by sharing and modelling the steps above.
From the regulator’s side, the MHRA stresses proportion, not panic. “Residues from emollient creams can make fabrics burn faster than people expect,” said Catriona Blake from the agency’s Safety and Surveillance team. The aim isn’t to stop using needed creams; it’s to reduce the ignition risk around you.
What this means for a typical evening: apply the cream you need, put on clean, laundered clothes where possible, and keep heaters or open flames at a safe distance. Skip candles on the bedside table, and if you smoke, change into clean clothing before going near a lighter or step outside where there are no soft furnishings.
If you want a quick, structured check, you can complete an online Home Fire Safety Check at www.ohfsc.co.uk. For more learning resources and campaign materials, search “Know the Fire Risk” on the NFCC website or visit nfcc.org.uk/our-services/campaigns/know-the-fire-risk. Share these with your class, your flat, or the person you care for.
Who are the organisations behind this advice? The MHRA regulates medicines and medical devices in the UK to make sure benefits outweigh risks. The National Fire Chiefs Council is the professional voice of UK fire and rescue services and supports crews to keep communities safe. When they team up on messaging, it’s because the evidence is clear and the actions are simple.