Vera Lillian STEEL · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 29 March 2012, an inquest (under Coroners Act 1988) was opened into the death of Vera Lillian STEEL, aged 81 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 13 August 2013. The conclusion of the inquest was that she died from Multiple Burn Injuries (with Oesophageal Cancer) Conclusion: Accident

The deceased was a heavy smoker. On Saturday 24 March 2012, she was taken onto the garden terrace of Glebe Nursing Home where she resided in order to smoke. She had refused to dress and was still in her night attire with a blanket over her legs. She asked her carer to fetch a glass of brandy and whilst the carer was gone, the deceased attempted to light a cigarette using a match. She apparently dropped the lit match into her lap causing a fire and resulting in severe burns. Despite treatment by attending paramedics and the specialist burns unit at King's College Hospital she died later that evening.

The deceased who had full testamentary capacity, was either bedbound or in a wheel chair. She insisted on smoking. She was extremely frail and tried to light a cigarette using a match. She apparently managed to strike one but she then dropped it (the lit match) into her lap. Her cotton night dress caught fire and she received burns. In the course of evidence we received evidence how it is now possible to obtain a fire protective apron or smock that could be worn or draped over the smoker so that any such incident would result in the match (or a lit cigarette) burning out without any damage to the clothing or smoker. With many fatal domestic fires being caused by the “incautious disposal of smoking products” this sort of pro-active clothing could be more widely available and those places (such as care homes) who residents may include smokers should be encouraged to provide access to these protective measures.