Emollient creams are used to treat dry and itchy skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis and are commonly used to reduce bed sores related to limited movement. Many contain flammable ingredients such as paraffin, petroleum or natural oils. They are often used by older people with mobility issues, who are also the group most at risk in a fire.
The Brigade is urging care home providers and carers to switch to non-flammable emollient creams which don’t contain paraffins, petroleum or natural oils. Care homes should also ensure that every resident has a plan in place that accounts for their use of cigarettes, skin creams and oxygen equipment.
The Brigade’s call for improved awareness of the dangers has support from a family, who tragically lost their much-loved 69-year-old grandfather, Cedric Skyers, in a fire at his care home in 2016.
His son, David Skyers, wants to make sure all carers supervise people with mobility issues, especially if they’re a smoker. Sadly, his father, who was wheelchair-bound following a stroke, was left smoking unsupervised at his care home, despite tell-tale warning signs of burn marks on his clothes. Cedric accidentally dropped his cigarette and became engulfed in flames; he tragically died from his injuries three days after celebrating his birthday.
An investigation into Cedric’s death found that although a smoking risk assessment had been undertaken, it did not consider the use of emollient creams, which can build up on skin, clothing or bedding making those items more susceptible to catching fire.
David Skyers says: “Skin creams like emollients are flammable and smokers have to be very careful. My Dad had few remaining pleasures in life following his stroke. He enjoyed writing poetry and smoking a cigarette. When he smoked, he needed to be supervised in case of an accident. He wasn’t mobile and needed help to get around in his wheelchair.
“If he had passed away naturally, as upsetting as that would be, you can understand it. This is just not meant to happen.
“To lose Dad in such a horrific incident has been devastating for all of us. We really want to make sure this doesn’t happen again, so nobody else loses a much-loved father, grandfather and friend in such an awful way. If we could take one small positive from it, it would be the learning lesson that this tragic event lends to others in the future. No family should have to experience our heartache.”
In relation to Cedric’s death, London Fire Brigade brought a prosecution against BUPA under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 after the fire in Brockley in March 2016. BUPA pleaded guilty to not meeting their statutory obligations in relation to fire safety measures.
London Fire Brigade's Assistant Commissioner, Craig Carter, said: “This is a harrowing case where failure to comply with fire safety regulations had fatal consequences. Cedric was vulnerable and his death could have been avoided.
“Every resident should have a plan in place which accounts for their mobility, their use of cigarettes, flammable skin creams and oxygen equipment.
“Care home staff can help to keep residents safe by encouraging them not to smoke, especially if they could drop their cigarette, become disoriented, or tend to fall asleep while smoking.
“We’re urging care home providers and carers to seek support and utilise the resources on the London Fire Brigade website to ensure they have taken the necessary precautions to keep their residents safe."
The Brigade has also written to the Care Quality Commission requesting urgent action as fires in care homes and supported living facilities reached a three-year high in December 2024, following an increase from 11 to 41 compared to the previous month. Smoking and cooking were the leading causes of the fires.
Brigade’s advice for formal and informal carers