KAYLA Morgans was at a party with her husband and two children when her 10-year-old son, Joey Kirk, caught fire.
The 30-year-old man, who was inside at the time, said another child threw a can of flammable insect repellent into the fire and it immediately exploded.
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Joey, who was sitting near the well, was engulfed in flames which instantly burned his head and hands before panicked guests began shouting “there’s a child on fire”.
Terrified, Kayla rushed to see her “unrecognizable” son because his face was “completely charred black.”
Joey was flown to the hospital, where he was placed on a breathing tube and life support just weeks before Christmas last year.
Kayla feared her son would die as doctors treated the extensive second- and third-degree burns to his face and hands.
Shocking footage shows him lying in hospital with his head wrapped in bandages and layers of burnt skin peeling away.
He asked ‘where are the other children, are they ok?’ He was worried about everyone else
Kayla Morgans
Fortunately, Joey has made a full recovery – but now law student Kayla is determined to raise awareness about the dangers of throwing aerosol cans into a fire.
I FELT DIRECT TERROR
Recalling the horrific day, Kayla, from Suffolk, Virginia, said: “His face and hands were burned, his clothes protected him a little.
“One of our close family friends immediately caught up with him and suffocated himself with his body, exposing him.
“At that time we were all running outside because one of the adults told us that there was a child on fire.
“Everyone ran outside, but Joey ran out. I saw him and his face was completely charred.
“It all happened so fast.
“I felt absolute terror, you couldn’t even recognize him. I was screaming ‘call 911.'”
Joey was flown to Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C. and placed on a breathing tube while doctors treated severe burns to his face and hands.
Kayla said: “He asked ‘where are the other children, are they ok?’ He was worried about everyone else.
“He couldn’t breathe on his own without life support.
“He had 12 percent burns across his body, but because of the location of the burns, it was considered serious.
“With facial burns, it can burn his esophagus and swell his throat, so he had to be on life support.
“The burns team at the hospital were amazing. Within two weeks, he looked like himself again after becoming unrecognizable.
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“He has scars where the new skin is and needs to wear sunscreen constantly, but he only has long-term scars on his ear and neck.”
After a week in the hospital, Joey was released and has since made a full recovery.
FIRE SAFETY
Six months after the incident, Kayla is determined to raise awareness about the dangers of throwing flammable products on fires.
Kayla said: “I knew those cans were explosive, but it was never one of those that I thought to warn my children about.
“We talk about fire safety all the time, but we don’t talk about what can happen when repellent is thrown on a fire.
“We are very blessed because this could have had a totally different ending.
It’s very important to tell his story and raise awareness.
“Be sure to talk to your children about anything flammable and don’t throw anything into a fire, especially if you don’t know what it is. Don’t take any chances.”
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How to treat burns and scalds
Burns are damage to the skin usually caused by heat.
They can be very painful and cause:
- Red or peeling skin
- Bubbles
- Swelling
- White or charred skin
The amount of pain you feel is not always related to the severity of the burn.
Even a very serious burn can be relatively painless.
Treatment of burns and scalds
To treat a burn, follow the First aid advice below:
- Immediately move the person away from the heat source
- Remove any clothing or jewelry
- Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 to 30 minutes
- Make sure the person stays warm
- Once the burn has cooled, cover it by placing a layer of plastic wrap over it.
- Use pain relievers
- Lift the affected area if possible
- If it is an acid or chemical burn, dial 999
When to seek medical care
Depending on the severity of the burn, it may be possible to treat it at home.
For mild burns, keep the burn clean and do not pop any blisters that form.
More serious burns require professional medical attention.
You should go to a hospital emergency room to:
- All chemical and electrical burns
- Large or deep burns – any burn larger than the injured person’s hand
- Burns that cause white or charred skin – any size
- Burns to the face, neck, hands, feet, joints or genitals
If someone has inhaled smoke or gases, they should also seek medical attention.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
