Because it is so commonplace, however, its presence is sometimes taken for granted. But the same quality of explosive ignition that makes gasoline so valuable as a fuel can cause terrible injuries when it is handled carelessly or used in a manner for which it is not intended. Gasoline and flammable liquid related burns, however, are a preventable problem. Deaths and injuries resulting from gasoline ignition or exposure occur in a variety of ways. Many of the deaths and injuries associated with gasoline occur at home.
Gasoline causes a significant number of burn injuries each year.
This is why the American Burn Association and its Burn Prevention Committee is involved in providing information on preventing gasoline burn injuries. It is estimated that each year in the United States there are more than 140,000 gasoline related fires. Thousands of people visit hospital emergency rooms or are hospitalized for gasoline related injuries each year, and approximately 500 people die from such injuries. Gasoline related burn injuries can be prevented through increased education and by changing the behavior of those who store and transport gasoline other than in their highway vehicle fuel tank. In order to promote the prevention of such incidents, an understanding of the flammability of gasoline and other petroleum products is needed.