AN UNUSUAL MECHANISM OF BURN INJURY DUE TO FLAMING DRINKS

Bars and cocktail lounges serve various forms of flaming drinks, usual ly made with very high-proof alcohol. The drinks are lit and then serv ed. If additional alcohol from the bottle is added to a still-burning drink, flames may spread up the stream of alcohol into the bottle and cause a flash of flame out the bottle's neck. Injuries can require gra fting. Three eases are reported. A 32-year-old white female sustained burns covering 10 per cent of her body surface, including the face. Su rgery with split-thickness grafts were required. Pressure garments wer e prescribed for 6 months. A 34-year-old black female was burned by a ''volcano'' drink. Burns covered 20 per cent of her body surface, incl uding the face. Split-thickness grafts were required on multiple occas ions. Infected wounds healed slowly. Reconstructive surgery has so far required eight procedures. A 39-year-old white male sustained severe burns to 10 per cent of his body, including the face. Grafting was car ried out. Pressure garments were required. Permanent visible facial sc arring is present in all three cases. This type of accident is readily preventable.