Each year, United States fire departments respond to a residential fire every 74 seconds. These fires account for a small percentage of all reported fire incidents, yet cause 80% of all fire-related deaths and nearly 75% of all injuries. Fire and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under. Children, especially those age 5 and under, are at greatest risk from home fire death and injury.
A less acute perception of danger, less control of their environment, and a limited ability to react promptly and properly to a fire also contribute to this excess risk. Younger children have faster metabolic rates and are less able to physically handle toxic combustion products, thereby placing them at greater risk of suffering injury of dying due to asphyxiation caused by fire. Furthermore, because children have thinner skin, the burns they sustain from the fire flames are more severe than those of adults.
Smoke detectors are extremely effective at preventing fire-related death and injury. The chances of dying in a residential fire are cut in half when a smoke detector is present. Residential sprinkler systems, escape plans and fire extinguishers are also effective at preventing and mitigating this risk.
DEATHS AND INJURIES
- In 1995, more than 800 children ages 14 and under died in residential fires. More than 60% of these were children ages 4 and under.
- Each year, nearly 47,000 children ages 14 and under are injured in residential fires. Nearly 55% of these are ages 4 and under.
- Each year, children playing with fire cause more than 20,000 residential fires.
- Most home fires and home fire-related deaths occur during cold-weather months, December through February.
- The most dangerous fires occur at night when people are sleeping. The majority of children who die from home fires die while they are sleeping.
- Ninety percent of child fire deaths occur in homes without a working smoke detector.
- Home cooking equipment fires reported to fire departments are the leading cause of home fires and account for approximately one-fourth of all home fire injuries.
- Children from low-income families are at higher risk for burn injury, due to factors such as substandard housing, use of alternative heating sources, lack of working smoke detectors and economic constraints on providing adequate adult supervision.
- African-American children age 14 and under have a residential fire death rate that is more than two and a half times higher than Caucasian children.
- Almost 40% of fire deaths among children ages 5 and under occur between 8 am and 4 p.m., during the time when children are most likely to be left alone.
- Playing with fire is the leading cause of fire-related deaths among children ages 5 and under. These fires tend to begin in the bedroom or living room where children are often left alone to play.
- Children age 5 and under are more than twice as likely to die in a fire than the rest of the population.
HOUSE FIRES
Deaths (1988-95): 67 deaths (average 8 deaths/year)
Of the 67 deaths: 5 (7.5%) occurred among infants <1 year
29 (43.3%) among toddlers 1 - 4 years of age
10 (14.9%) among 5 - 9 year olds
12 (17.9%) among 10 - 14 year olds
11 (16.4%) among 15 - 19 year olds.
Non-fatal hospitalized injury (1990-94)
167 hospital admissions (average 33 admissions/yr)
Of the 167 hospital admissions:
9 (5.4%) occurred among infants <1 year
44 (26.3%) occurred among toddlers 1 - 4 years of age
24 (14.4%) among 5 - 9 year olds
47 (28.1%) among 10 - 14 year olds
43 (25.7%) among 15 - 19 year olds.
HEALTH CARE COSTS AND SAVINGS
Total lifetime societal losses are valued at approximately $7.5 billion for fire-and burn-related deaths and injures among children ages 14 and under in just one year. Children ages 4 and under account for $4.8 billion of these losses.
Every dollar spent on a smoke detector saves at least that much in direct medical costs and an additional $55 to $70 in total costs to society.
- Chances of dying in a residential fire are cut in half when a working smoke detector is present.
- Keep matches, lighters and other heat sources out of children’s reach.
- Remove anything too close to a fireplace, heater or radiator. Secure all portable heaters.
- Avoid plugging several appliance cords into the same electrical socket.
- Replace old or unraveled appliance cords and keep them on top of rugs.
- Store all flammable liquids such as gasoline outside of the home.
- Keep furniture and other heavy objects out of the way of doors and windows.
- Buy and install smoke detectors.
- Test and maintain smoke detectors regularly.
- Plan and practice two escape routes out of the house and each room.
- Designate an outside meeting place.
- Teach children what the smoke detector alarm sounds like.
- Teach children to crawl low under smoke.
- Teach children to cover their mouths and noses, touch doors before opening them, and to never enter a burning building.
- Teach children to "stop, drop and roll."
- Take children on a tour of your local fire station.