Wire Wool Safety

Preface:
Ok, so I did a Durbs, and have found nothing satisfactory.
I know there are tid-bits out there, but I am seeking to make a thread for easy searching/ reference on Wire wool

(inspired by reading the Fire Breathing glamourization thread)

I'm fairly certain that many people aren't completely aware of the dangers of spinning Steel wool, especially those new to HoP. Like Fire Breathing, spinning Steel wool is extremely dangerous, particurlarly for the careless. For those that choose to spin fire, most know to have a SAFETY, fire extinguisher, blanket, first aid equipment, covered fuel cans, etc. But basic fire safety will only take you so far.

As part of a performing troupe at my uni, I spin quite a bit. Sometimes when we feel the conditions are right, and the mood warrants it, we will spin Steel wool. This is undertaken in a parking lot with no cars around. Even still, accidents can occur.

One time, during a filming shoot in the late winter/early spring, a member was spinning wool and some embers that flew off happened to land in the dry leaves/brambles next to the lot. Had someone not noticed that there was light where it should be dark, it was quite possible that there could have been uncontrollable flames.

Full clothing cover is so extraordinarily important I cannot begin to stress it. Most fire spinners know, or should know, that natural fibers are better to where while twirling. This extends even more so for Steel wool, as you have embers that burn hotter flying all over the place, some that land places you don't expect, and leave singe marks. My advice...if you're going to do it, cover as much skin as possible...most importantly your hair.

The intensity of the light is another thing to watch out for. Having spun several wire wools myself, even with my eyes shut, and a beanie over my head extending down to my neck and over my eyes, the light was brilliant. Even taking pictures of it leaves the eyes dazzled.

If you're not the one spinning, and are the safety, be ready to douse anything right away, but be sure you're way out of the way of the sparks, because once they start going, they fly extremely far.

And there are of course people that think you can do it anywhere, even in a small courtyard surrounded by buildings, grass, trees and the audience.

I know that it is a spectacle that is amazing to see, but even so, I fear that there are too many people that will simply go and attempt it without stopping to think what they are doing.

Spin Safe

Also very important, and so apparently obvious that it would seem not to need saying, is-

make absolutely sure that you're well away from people when spinning wire wool

(I bring up this point because I have seen someone walk into the middle of a group of spinners and lit up Wire wool poi; no one got hit by sparks, but it was mainly down to good luck).

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Having been around on one of the occasions where the infamous 'Black Bush' poi where being tested (these where long-burning Wire wool poi using very large amounts of wool) I very much felt that if I'd been using them (I was offered a go, but refused for reasons of self-preservation) I would have wanted to be wearing safety goggles.

A burn to the body can be very serious indeed, but, in all likelihood you will recover- damaging an eye (or eyes) is far, far worse.

(In the UK industrial style eye protectors can often be found in 'Pound Shops', so there's no excuse for not owning a pair or two, it's surprising how useful they come in for other stuff as well, once you've got some).

it really pissed me off at Sheffield when people starting spinning Wire wool too close to people.

Its not only disrespectful, but also rediculously dangerous.

and if you're not careful, you'll have someone's eye out.

Im still to spin Wire wool actually.

Wire wool was amazing to do but I feel it is an accident waiting to happen and often the users just dont get far enough away or warn ppl that they are starting up.

I haven't been back to the juggling club in town since I witnessed a guy doing wirewool in a residential area, at the end of a street with cars parked at the side, and most of the sparks going over the wall onto a motorway. At one point a lady walked straight passed behind where he was spinning. The guy doing it couldn't spin 3 beat weave. His friends thought it was great, but I thought it was horrific. I was waiting for someone to call the police. Personally I've only ever done wirewool once, and that was after a couple of years wanting to, in a big field with damp grass and lots of other HoPpers.

I'm all for more education on safety of it.

Another note, make sure you are spinning WELL away from your fuel depot. It's a bigger deal for folks who spin with Coleman's camp fuel since it is much more volitile than lamp oil or parafin.

I know the advice I offer probably seems obvious, but...it never hurts to cover all the bases...even the obvious ones.

just measure out a 75-100ft radius that NOBODY except your safeties are allowed into, and you should be fine...granted wind conditions are good...

out of interest, as this is a safety thread, does anyone actually have a 'safety' person(s)? having met well over 100 HoP people now it seems a bit like an urban legend to me

Actually, yes.

The groups I spin with always have someone with a wet towel as safety.

My experience while visiting the UK? I didn't see anyone on safety, but parafin isn't nearly as dangerous as Coleman's camp fuel, so a safety person isn't as critical.

Hmmm. I think it is a particularly US thing, as Colemans is used much more readily there... but even at the irish fire gatherings we always try to stay alert.

We don't have a safety person, per se, but the core members of the group try to look out for newbies, ensure people with cigarettes aren't standing over the bucket. Common sense stuff, really. And we tend to have a fire blanket and burn cream at gatherings.

It does work... anytime I, or anyone else, have accidentally set themselves on fire, someone always rushes over immediately to sort it out

2 abc extinguishers manned and ready to go, a damp towel, and a hose on location
if the safeties cant make it to the event one of us will spin the other covers...

I have never, in all the meets I've been at seen anything like a 'safety person'.

I'm not saying they weren't there, simply that I wasn't aware of it (assuming that by 'safety' we mean someone keeping a good eye on the spinner, knowing what to do if something goes wrong).

The only time I've ever seen so much as a damp cloth at a spinning meet is when I've brought it myself.

I have heard people say, after a meet- 'Ah... you may not have known this, but all the time there was a damp cloth in my bag in case anything went wrong..'

at which I can't help feeling-

1. could you even find your bag in pitch black, in the panic of having to deal with an emergency

2. why's it in your bag, rather than in a specific, lit up area, that eveyone is fully aware of, in case of emergency

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Personally, for a normal spin I don't feel in need of a constantly watching safety; however, if I'm doing something dodgy (new, giant wicks; moves at the edge of my ability etc) then I'll insist on one. If no-one (who I can trust and rely on) is around, then I won't do it.

For newbies, pretty much anything they do is at the edge of their abilities, so I'd urge them to arrange a reliable safety.

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Things to think about when being safety for someone-

1. People light up at dusk- remember that soon it gets very dark, especially when looking at fire stops your 'night vision'. Stuff you can see and know the location of when you start, soon becomes invisible.

Use a lamp, candles, LED light to have an area illuminated full time- that's where your safety stuff goes.

2. Heavy duty vinyl coated garden gloves are really useful if youre pulling burning wicks off someone- when acting as safety, wear some.

(get the largest size for ease of putting on and off, but, when spotting, have them on already). They're also useful for 'wringing' excess fuel from wicks (especially with fire ropes) thereby reducing 'spin-off' excess.

3. As safety- watch the spinner; don't get distracted by conversation etc

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In our group, we generally don't have a designate safety, but there is always someone, who, if not spinning, is ready to jump in. Rotating the duty works just fine. For more advanced spinners, it is still good to have a safety, as we do at all performances, but it is especially important for new spinners

This might be a litlle on the Wire wool subject, but on the subject of safety people...

I started spinning in the Uk, not really knowing about having specific safety people.

Then, when I started spinning in Houston I started to understand the need for them. As Spitfire says, coleman fuel (which most spinners here use) is a LOT more flamable than paraffin or lamp oil.

With all the people I've spun with over here, we have at least one safety person with a damp towel.
I've seen this person many times having to stop the spinner to smother small flames on their clothing (usually only with coleman fuel).
I've seen this person stopping random spectators (and dogs) from walking too close to the person spinning.
I've seen this person put out small fires on the ground (which could spread very quickly on dry ground).
And - in my eyes the most important one - this safety person has been there when a 7yr old boy managed to wrap a wick around his wrist. (But don't get me started on that!).

Really, it's just what's more appropriate for different fuels.

Again, possibly but does anyone know anything about firewater? I've heard that its the best poi fuel you can get but that its illegal in most countries.

They use it in Australia though and I'm going out there soon so I'd like to know a bit about it.

Anyone know anything?

Thing that ive noticed, is that generally when someone is spinning, there is usually a group of people watching.

Not only watching them spin, but also if they catch on fire.



Ive seen someone run out and smack MarkP on the head at Reclaim the beach once as he set his hair on fire.
It was hilarious. And I stand by that. He carried on spinning not knowing his hair was on fire until he noticed the person running at him at full speed, that and he wasnt hurt. So I reckon its always funny as long as no one gets hurt.

How pure is Aviation fuel??

supposidly pure kerosene

Thats what I heard. I also heard that the airlines have to run off the first part of the fuel each time and throw it away. Havent any contacts in the industry though to try and access it.