First reported 11 Aug 2015•Latest report 12 Aug 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes controls specifically dedicated to preventing, warning about, recognising or managing fire risks from paraffin-containing or low-paraffin emollient products, including product and prescription warnings, communication to patients and carers, healthcare-professional and care-home awareness, and related fire-safety advice.
Not included
Excludes general product-safety warnings where the asserted hazard is not fire risk from paraffin-containing emollients.
Excludes generic fire-safety, medication-safety or healthcare communication deficiencies that are not specifically tied to paraffin-containing emollient fire risks.
Excludes fire hazards from non-emollient products, including unrelated medicines, appliances and household chemicals.
Excludes failures in treating burns or responding to a fire after the emollient-related fire risk was adequately identified and controlled.
Reports
7
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
19
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2015–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
55
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Care Quality Commission3
Department of Health and Social Care3
National Fire Chiefs Council3
NHS England3
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency2
Proprietary Association of Great Britain2
Alliance Pharmaceuticals Limited1
Arjo UK Limited1
Bayer plc1
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust1
British Medical Association1
Homecare Association Limited1
Home Office1
Locala Community Partnerships C.I.C.1
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence1
Executive non-departmental public body4
Ministerial department4
Health and social care service regulator3
National fire and rescue body3
Executive agency2
Medicines and medical devices regulator2
Private limited company2
Trade association2
Community interest company1
Company1
Fire and rescue service1
NHS trust1
Public limited company1
Registered charity1
Registered provider of social housing1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
South Yorkshire (Eastern)
Concerns raised1
Heightened emollient cream fire risk when elderly or lower-income people use alternative methods to heat their homes
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Embed emollient fire-risk assessment and messaging within the Person-Centred Home Fire Safety Framework and Home Fire Safety Visits.
Stated by National Fire Chiefs CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 August 2025.
Action
Highlight emollient fire risk during winter preparedness campaigns for 2025/26.
Stated by National Fire Chiefs CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 29 August 2025.
Staffordshire South
Concerns raised1
Fire ignition of clothing impregnated with petrol-based emollient cream
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
Oversight of medicine and medical-product safety and product labelling falls outside the respondent’s role.
Stated by National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
The MHRA is responsible for medicine and medical-product safety oversight and ensuring appropriate product warnings.
Stated by National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Existing prescriber information and warnings about emollient fire risks are considered adequate, leaving nothing specifically to add.
Stated by National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
MHRA is better placed to respond to risks involving petroleum-based emollients and skin creams because they are medicines.
Stated by Public Health EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
London (West)
Concerns raised1
Failure by patients and care organisations to heed safety guidance on fire hazards from paraffin-based skin products
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
West Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised3
Unavailability of verbal fire-risk warnings from healthcare professionals for retail and online purchases
Lack of healthcare professional awareness of the fire hazard from low-paraffin emollient creams
Fire hazard from paraffin-based ointments and low-paraffin emollient creams
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.17
Action
Update personnel communicating with healthcare professionals and the public on the assessment outcome and subsequent labelling changes.
Stated by Alliance Pharmaceuticals LimitedStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Issue safety reminders and warnings to healthcare professionals about fire risks from paraffin-based emollients.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Raise emollient fire risks with NHS Improvement, Medical Device Safety Officers and the Care Quality Commission for communication to relevant care staff and users.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Produce and disseminate a fire hazard poster on paraffin-based products across clinical service areas and organisational communication channels.
Stated by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Upload the leaflet and poster to the NHSI improvement hub and disseminate them nationally through NHSI.
Stated by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Raise staff awareness of emollient risks and include the issue in all fire training.
Stated by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Repeat staff awareness surveys every six months to identify concerns about emollient hazards.
Stated by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Display emollient risk messages on Trust screens and repeat the messages twice yearly.
Stated by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Maintain liaison with the Fire Service to update teams on laundering evidence and ongoing emollient hazards.
Stated by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Write to manufacturers to include emollient fire risks in product risk analyses and provide packaging or instructions-for-use warnings.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Request UK manufacturers to review Class I devices and require Notified Bodies to ensure higher-risk devices undergo manufacturer review and risk assessment.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Notify European regulatory colleagues and request dissemination to Notified Bodies overseeing manufacturers supplying the European market.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Review evidence on risks from paraffin-containing medicines and devices and obtain ad hoc Expert Group recommendations on appropriate regulatory action.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Produce and disseminate a patient safety leaflet on paraffin-based products and laundering clothing and bedding.
Stated by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Create a SystmOne alert identifying patients at risk when emollient treatment is entered in the clinical record.
Stated by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Conduct annual community nursing audits of leaflet distribution and documented discussions of emollient hazards with patients.
Stated by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Action
Provide existing community nursing patients with safety leaflets and advice about emollient risks.
Stated by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 30 October 2018.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Other recipients of the report will address concerns about healthcare warnings, prescribing systems, incident data and fire-safety training.
Stated by Bayer plcRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
No further communication was considered necessary in 2008 because no adverse incident reports had been received.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyNo action considered necessaryThe respondent said that no further action was needed.
West Yorkshire (West)
Concerns raised5
Potential fire hazard from low-paraffin emollient creams
Failure to verbally inform over-the-counter purchasers of fire hazards from low-paraffin emollient creams
Lack of healthcare professional awareness of fire hazards from low-paraffin emollient creams
Lack of care-home awareness of fire hazards from low-paraffin emollient creams
Failure to display fire-risk warnings on all product packaging
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.24
Action
Develop consistent, clear warning wording for paraffin-containing emollient packaging and patient information.
Stated by PAGBStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Submit proposed warning wording for user-testing to assess whether consumers understand it clearly.
Stated by PAGBStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Work with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to implement a consistent standard warning on packaging and patient information leaflets after user-testing.
Stated by PAGBStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Continue collaborative work with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, fire brigades and stakeholders to provide clear, consistent risk information to healthcare and care professionals.
Stated by PAGBStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Provide healthcare and care professionals with information on minimising and managing emollient-related fire risks with patients.
Stated by PAGBStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Undertake an in-depth review of emollient instructions for use and reported adverse incidents.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Consider publishing additional safety advice after completing the emollient review, in conjunction with medicines colleagues.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Work with manufacturers to raise awareness of emollient fire risks.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Ask manufacturers and notified bodies to review products and undertake relevant fire-risk assessments.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Notify European regulatory colleagues about emollient fire dangers and request wider circulation to relevant notified bodies.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Raise emollient fire risks with NHS Improvement and Medical Device Safety Officers.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Liaise with the Care Quality Commission to highlight emollient fire dangers to care-community users.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Continue reviewing methods for communicating important healthcare information to healthcare professionals and the public.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Highlight published NPSA emollient-fire safety work to healthcare workers.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Issue warnings about smoking and bed-fire dangers through a Medical Device Alert.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Disseminated updated guidance and warnings about fire risks from paraffin-containing skin products to staff and relevant service users.
Stated by Locala Community PartnershipsStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Updated staff training to cover the latest guidance on paraffin-based products.
Stated by Locala Community PartnershipsStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Added paraffin-product risk assessment to requests for air products from Medequip.
Stated by Locala Community PartnershipsStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Discussed paraffin-product and heightened air-mattress fire risks in community nursing team meetings.
Stated by Locala Community PartnershipsStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Pilot and evaluate non-paraffin emollients as alternatives in the Dewsbury locality with local GP involvement.
Stated by Locala Community PartnershipsStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Publish and make available guidance on emollient-product fire risks for homecare providers.
Stated by United Kingdom Homecare AssociationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Publish an article warning homecare providers about the fire risks of emollient creams through the member magazine.
Stated by United Kingdom Homecare AssociationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Send members an email briefing highlighting the fire risks of paraffin-based emollients.
Stated by United Kingdom Homecare AssociationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Action
Added residential-care assessment prompts requiring fire-risk assessment and discussion with patients who smoke, use air mattresses or use emollients.
Stated by Locala Community PartnershipsStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Warnings on emollient packaging and to the general public are matters for other recipients with a broader remit.
Stated by Locala Community PartnershipsRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
No further communication was considered necessary because no adverse incident reports had been received since the earlier safety publication.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyNo action considered necessaryThe respondent said that no further action was needed.
Leicester City and South Leicestershire
Concerns raised3
Highly flammable paraffin-based product with ignition risk
Lack of fire-hazard warnings on E45 prescriptions and product packaging
Failure to communicate E45 fire hazards by GPs
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.12
Action
Issue advice to healthcare professionals explaining that paraffin-based emollients can act as accelerants when clothing or bedding becomes saturated.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
Action
Publish a reminder advising healthcare professionals to warn patients against smoking or using naked flames near emollient-treated dressings, clothing or bedding.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
Action
Update the British National Formulary to identify the fire risk associated with predominantly paraffin-based topical medicines.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
Action
Take regulatory action to require similar fire-risk warnings on all emollient medicines, including aqueous-based products such as E45 Cream.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
Action
Inform BNF editors that fire-risk warnings should cover less concentrated aqueous paraffin-containing products.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
Action
Communicate the fire risk to the Medication Safety Officer network for dissemination and organisational action.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
Action
Ask care-sector organisations and professional bodies to communicate the fire risk through suitable newsletters and bulletins.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
Action
Conduct an additional safety assessment and reassess flammability labelling across the E45 product portfolio.
Stated by RBStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
Action
Submit an MHRA variation application to add flammability warnings and safe-use guidance to specified E45 medicinal and cosmetic products.
Stated by RBStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
Action
Release the specified E45 medicinal and cosmetic products with revised labels containing flammability warnings and safe-use guidance.
Stated by RBStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
Action
Communicate the expanded emollient warning and related safety advice to relevant healthcare professionals, including nurses.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 April 2016.
West Sussex
Concerns raised5
Failure to review and address fire risks of lower-paraffin emollient creams
Lack of community information about paraffin-emollient ignition risk
Fire hazard from paraffin-based emollients contacting clothing or dressings
Failure to consider paraffin-emollient fire risk when prescribing
Failure to communicate paraffin-emollient fire risk to patients
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes controls specifically dedicated to preventing, warning about, recognising or managing fire risks from paraffin-containing or low-paraffin emollient products, including product and prescription warnings, communication to patients and carers, healthcare-professional and care-home awareness, and related fire-safety advice.
