Man Catches Fire After Applying Sunscreen

[pixy0stix]

gma.yahoo.com/massachusetts-man-catches-fire-applying-sunscreen-045433703--abc-news-topstories.html

A Massachusetts man said he suffered second-degree burns from a grill after applying sunscreen lotion on parts of his body.

Brett Sigworth said he applied Banana Boat sunscreen to his body before walking over to his grill, not knowing it would still be flammable after it was on his skin.

"I went into complete panic mode and screamed," Sigworth said. "I've never experienced pain like that in my life."

The result was second-degree burns to his chest, ear and back, the only areas where he applied the sunscreen. Ten days after the incident, Sigworth is still showing the effects of the incident.

The warnings on the bottle of Banana Boat sunscreen read, "Flammable, don't use near heat, flame or while burning." But nothing about once it's applied.

Banana Boat officials said in a statement they were sorry to hear about Sigworth's experience and would begin a prompt investigation. "We are unaware of any prior incidents similar to what Brett has described, but because nothing is more important to us than the safety of our consumers, we are taking this matter very seriously," the statement said.

Dan Dillard, CEO of the Burn Prevention Network, believes the sunscreen might not have fully absorbed into Sigworth's skin and the droplets from the aerosol spray might have still been in the air.

"As he approached the flame, the charcoal simply caught the vapor trail and it follows the vapor trail to where the bulk of the substance is, which is on his body," said Dillard.

"I think if people were told this is flammable for two minutes on your skin, people wouldn't use it," Sigworth said.

He doesn't plan to sue, but it sharing his story and photos with others to make sure no one else ends up in the hospital after applying sunscreen.

"It was so scary," he said, "and I just wouldn't want to see it happen to anybody else."

[charminglife]

Jun 5, 2012 10:19:30 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

gma.yahoo.com/massachusetts-man-catches-fire-applying-sunscreen-045433703--abc-news-topstories.html

"I think if people were told this is flammable for two minutes on your skin, people wouldn't use it," Sigworth said.

Or people would stay away from flames for 2 minutes after applying sunscreen.

[KateAggie]

I'm starting a countdown for when he files the lawsuit that he's not "planning" on filing.

I give it 3 more days. Unless Banana Boat offers him something before that.

[EloiseWeenie]

Why would he immediately walk over to the grill have applying spray sunscreen? Sunscreen cloud lingers- if he breathes, he knows this.

[bugandbibs]

In this case, I would totally sue. This is a serious danger, especially since spray sunscreens are usually targeted at kids. Usually, companies only make changes if they have too- either legally or lost profits. A lawsuit would help inform people of the danger.

[wawa]

Obviously we don't know the exact details. But the warning clearly says not to use near open flame. A few steps away counts as "near" in my book. I feel bad for him and his injuries, but if he was just a few steps from his grill and then immediately walked back over after applying I'm gonna have to say he's a dimbulb.

If we're talking that it was still just damp on his skin but the cloud had cleared, then yeah, that's kinda f'd up.

[dev22]

When I read the title, I had a vivid image in my head of this guy applying sunscreen, stepping outside, then combusting.

That is all I have to add.

[Deleted]

Jun 5, 2012 13:13:42 GMT -5 dev22 said:

When I read the title, I had a vivid image in my head of this guy applying sunscreen, stepping outside, then combusting.

That is all I have to add.

This is exactly what I thought had happened and I was thinking "wtf...."

[noonecareswhoiam]

I'm sorry, but every kid who has ever held a lighter to a can of hair spray (and I'd bet this guy was one of them, because, well, he's a guy and it's a pretty universal guy activity) knows that propellants are flammable.

Hell, when I was a reporter I covered a story where a kid's hair caught on fire when he was sprayed with Silly String while blowing out his birthday candles. Do you think I EVER went to the bar that was known for Silly String fights? No fucking way!

The warning on the can is sufficient. Just because he didn't think doesn't mean he should sue.

[UMaineTeach]

I wouldn't have thought that I would catch fire after it was on my skin and I had put the can down and walked across the yard.

[decemberwedding07]

That's awful. I definitely think the warning should include a warning about remaining flammable for two minutes. That's quite a long time. And that spray on sunscreen seems to be especially popular for use on little kids. It might be helpful to know that you can't spray your kid in the kitchen, then let them run right out to the yard, passed dad who is using the grill. I feel terrible for the guy.

[wawa]

Jun 5, 2012 15:11:51 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

That's awful. I definitely think the warning should include a warning about remaining flammable for two minutes. That's quite a long time. And that spray on sunscreen seems to be especially popular for use on little kids. It might be helpful to know that you can't spray your kid in the kitchen, then let them run right out to the yard, passed dad who is using the grill. I feel terrible for the guy.

the 2 minutes quote above is from the guy who caught fire. And I don't think he's claiming that there was a two minute gap between when he was standing over the grill and when it was applied. That number just came out of his ass. IF that time delay is accurate, then I agree that they should be liable because their warning is totally insufficent. But if there was actually still a bit of a cloud around this dude when he got close to the fire, then that's just the nature of aerosol cans and he's an idiot.

I get the hot coffee thing. But a big part of the reason that McD's had to pay out the nose for that one was because they KNEW their coffee was ridiculously hot. They'd had requests to turn it down. There was no good reason to have it that hot. And yet they persisted with the ridiculously hot coffee. And then they burned off that lady's labia with it.

An aerosol can of sunscreen is flammable by design. It is the nature of aerosol propellants to be flammable. It says so right on the can. It's not an oversight on their part...everybody knows that it's flammable. It's just a question of how long it remains flammable.

A few seconds - duh.
A few minutes - they've got a serious issue with their product.

[basilosaurus]

Hmmm, I use a lot of spray sunscreen (costco is my friend), and I guess I could see that it takes awhile to absorb. I always rub it in b/c that way I don't miss a spot, which has happened too often with spray, but if I just leave it sit it could be wet for a few minutes.

Yeah, I could see someone thinking that it was only flammable while it was spraying but was fine once it was on your skin. Although, like eloise said, you can still smell that shit which means it's still giving off fumes, but that's more thinking than I think should be expected of the average warning label reader.

[wawa]

Jun 5, 2012 16:04:04 GMT -5 @mrdobalina said:

If the sunscreen itself is flammable for one second that is a hazard. If the aerosol propellants are flammable that's another story. But the sunscreen should not be flammable....

yeah, that's essentially what I meant. Thanks for being far more clear.

it takes a second or three for propellants to clear after you spray something. The stuff you are actually spraying should not light on fire once that's happened.