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5 live Investigates

5 Live Investigates

Factual: Consumer

Adrian Goldberg presents cutting edge investigative journalism

Adrian Goldberg presents cutting edge investigative journalism, as well as taking on listeners' campaigns and consumer issues

5 Live Investigates: Skin Cream Fire Deaths

11/02/2018

Skin Cream Fire Deaths

BBC Radio 5 Live - 5 Live Investigates, Skin Cream Fire Deaths

Skin creams linked to 'hundreds' of fire deaths.

Fire chiefs say 'hundreds' of people may have been killed in fires caused by clothes saturated in paraffin-based skin creams.

Skin creams containing paraffin could be responsible for 'hundreds' of fire deaths across the UK according to fire chiefs. 5 live Investigates revealed last year that 37 deaths had been linked to the creams since 2010. But the programme has learned there have been a further eight deaths  - and leading firefighters warn that figure could be much higher because fire and rescue services don't always record the fact that skin creams were involved. Following 5 live's investigation, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency urged all manufactures to place warnings on their products, advising consumers to wash clothes and bedding properly to reduce the build-up of paraffin. But of the 38 products containing paraffin and licensed for sale in the UK, just seven of them carry warnings. Brian Bicat, 82, died six months after the MHRA issued its guidance after accidentally setting himself on fire. His family say they weren't aware of the dangers of using skin creams and consumers need to be given advice to prevent more deaths in the future.

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