Burns from Worship Place (Rituals); Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH); Ikeja, Nigeria experience
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Abstract
Background: Religious use of incense has its origins in antiquity. Egyptians used it during the Fifth Dynasty and has become a symbolic rite in different religious and cultural practices. The burned incense may be used as a sacrificial offering to various deities or serve as an aid in prayer. Fire has been used by humans for over 500,000 years. The mystical significance is for purification. The incenses are combustible, when used in the presence of naked fire, and can be ignited. The aim of this study is to present our experience with burn injuries occurring in worship places while performing purification rites.
Method: A retrospective review of all cases of burns resulting from places of worship during sanctification services between June 2019 and May 2021 seen at LASUTH was carried out. The case notes of all the identified patients were retrieved and necessary information obtained.
Results: Six cases; five females and one male were seen during the period the injuries occurred in churches during services. All the cases were sprayed with perfume while the worshippers held lighted candles. The age ranged between 43 to 60 years ± 6.18 injuries, mostly mixed skin thickness ranged between 22% and 60%, mean value for total body surface area (TBSA) was 19.4%. All had associated inhalation injury. Mortality from this study was 33%.
Conclusion: Knowing that worship places have congrant in their numbers, knowledge of burns prevention tips should be an emphasis in teachings in congregations. Government approval for worship places should includes designs to prevent and enable rescue operations in their construction, furnishings of worship places with fire sensors, detectors, fire alarms and routine fire drills should be part of education for worship places.
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