Man burned while playing 'lighter fluid tag'
PORT ANGELES, Wash. -- Nelson Blewett's night of drinking left him with more than just blurry memories. He has the scars to prove it.
"It was a good show. It was an epic night. They won't forget it for a while," he said.
Blewett, 22, spent eight hours in the emergency room at Harborview Medical Center after he caught on fire and jumped off a balcony to put out the flames. He sustained burns on his face, hands and chest, and all because he played with fire.
"The whole lighter fluid thing started. We were putting it in our mouth and blowing big old clouds of fire," he said. "Then we started with the tag stuff. Then I got burned. So it was over after that."
The so-called "lighter fluid tags" involves players squirting each other with lighter fluid or spray deodorant, lighting the clothing of the person who is "it" and beating out the flames.
With a lot of luck, the flames go out with a few pat. But on Monday night, Blewett wasn't so lucky when his friends squirted him with lighter fluid. Even though he was burned and in pain, he said he waited for 45 minutes before calling 911, trying to prove he's tough.
Blewett was released from the hospital on Wednesday, and Clallam County Fire Chief Jon Bugher said he's amazed Blewett was discharged so quickly. Bugher said Blewett's case should serve as a warning to other parents.
"The fact they referred to it as lighter fluid tag -- that tells me that there might be other people out there doing the same thing or considering it, and I don't want to answer those calls," he said.
Blewett faces months of medical care ahead. He won't be able to continue working at his construction job, which means he'll have to go without pay -- a heft price for a night of playing with fire.
"It was all for show at first. And now it's just pain," he said.
"It was a good show. It was an epic night. They won't forget it for a while," he said.
Blewett, 22, spent eight hours in the emergency room at Harborview Medical Center after he caught on fire and jumped off a balcony to put out the flames. He sustained burns on his face, hands and chest, and all because he played with fire.
"The whole lighter fluid thing started. We were putting it in our mouth and blowing big old clouds of fire," he said. "Then we started with the tag stuff. Then I got burned. So it was over after that."
The so-called "lighter fluid tags" involves players squirting each other with lighter fluid or spray deodorant, lighting the clothing of the person who is "it" and beating out the flames.
With a lot of luck, the flames go out with a few pat. But on Monday night, Blewett wasn't so lucky when his friends squirted him with lighter fluid. Even though he was burned and in pain, he said he waited for 45 minutes before calling 911, trying to prove he's tough.
Blewett was released from the hospital on Wednesday, and Clallam County Fire Chief Jon Bugher said he's amazed Blewett was discharged so quickly. Bugher said Blewett's case should serve as a warning to other parents.
"The fact they referred to it as lighter fluid tag -- that tells me that there might be other people out there doing the same thing or considering it, and I don't want to answer those calls," he said.
Blewett faces months of medical care ahead. He won't be able to continue working at his construction job, which means he'll have to go without pay -- a heft price for a night of playing with fire.
"It was all for show at first. And now it's just pain," he said.
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