Using Candles can be a Fire Hazard
Lately we are seeing a rash of insurance claims for fires caused by unattended candles. Your livelihood depends upon your ability to massage clients in your office. If the office burns down you might be out of business. Please be careful of the flames in your office.
Also, note that oily sheets seem to create a larger blaze (1). According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles caused 9,930 fires, 126 civilian deaths and $170.6 million in property damage across the nation in 1996, the most recent year for which candle-caused fire data is available. This represents an 82% increase over the same categories from the year 1990. Most of these candle-caused fires started when burning candles were left unattended.
Here are some Fire Safety tips for using candles safely (2):
- Position candles away from flammable objects and materials, and away from any possible contact by pets or children.
- Place candles on heat-resistant surfaces which will not transmit heat to the furniture or which they are placed. Ceramics work well for this purpose.
- Candles should also be placed in heat resistant bowls that will catch dripping wax, and secured in an appropriate holder so there's not the slightest possibility of the candle falling over, or being blown or knocked over.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- When blowing out a candle, hold your index finger in front of the flame and blow at it. Air will flow around your finger, extinguish the candle from both sides, and prevent hot wax from splattering.
- Install a smoke detector in every room where candles are burned.
For more information about candles or fire safety, contact your local fire department.
Using Body Oils or Creams?
Lately, we have had some insurance claims related to the use of products on the body. From the onset, you must be comfortable with the products that you use on your clients. A common favorite is extra virgin olive oil purchased at the grocery store. Sometimes clients furnish their own creams or oils. Whatever the case, should a client have a problem with the substance you use, please report it to your insurance provider immediately.
There is a true test of water quality called TDS. This stands for Total Dissolved Solids. If you were to take 1,000,000 parts of water in a solution, ever wonder how many parts there are in it other than water? Very clean water contains three parts per million other than water. Urban tap water is usually 120 or more parts-per-million non-water. Often the non-water components are chlorine and fluoride, which slows down metabolism and the thyroid. A slow thyroid is the first step in weight gain. When you shower in water that is chlorinated, it is equivalent to drinking a glass of chlorinated water. The skin absorbs a certain amount of that which is applied to it.
As such, oils and creams are similarly absorbed into the body. That is why some massage experts recommend extra virgin olive oil or another cold processed oil. They feel we should not put anything on the skin which cannot also be digested.
Insurance claims pertaining to oils and creams are for over-the-counter remedies that are designed to create heating and cooling. On should be extremely careful when using any product on a client. If they have a bad experience, they will not return.
Include your client in the decision process on which oil or cream to use in their session. This is a great opportunity to introduce aromatherapy oils and make your client feel special. When a client is made to feel important, they will show our appreciation by telling their friends (3).
(1) IMA Group
(2) New Jersey Dept. of Fire Safety
(3) IMA Group
About this Contributor: Warren Leggiere is both an insurance professional and long time holistic practitioner. He is a nationally known consultant to the holistic industry. As President of Holistic Benefits & Services, a referral organization, his path in this life is to "help the helpers."
