Burn injuries from portable butane camping stoves

Admissions to the Wessex Regional Burns Unit for injuries sustained whilst using portable butane camping stoves are reviewed. There have been 31 cases of such injuries in the past 10 years with one fatal outcome. Most accidents occurred while changing the canister. The number of accidents occurring suggests that these stoves must be regarded as intrinsically very hazardous and that a greater awareness of the dangers by users is necessary.