Unintentional Injuries: Residential Fire - PowerPoint Presentation

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Unintentional Injuries: Residential Fire

Residential fires become life threatening just two minutes after they begin; instead take two minutes to learn how you can prevent this from happening in your home. (New Science)

2015: There were 1,345,500 residential fires in the United States (USFA)

2016: 1,382 people died in unintentional residential fires in the United States (WISQARS) (Crude Rate, 0.43; Age Adjusted, 0.39)2015: 15,700 people were injured in unintentional residential fires in the United States (USFA)

No two residential fires are the same.How do they affect us differently?

More men die and are injured in residential fires than women. (WISQARS)People ages 85+ have the highest fire death rate. (USFA)People ages 50-54 have the highest injury rate. (USFA)The southern United States had the most deaths per million population in the US (FEMA)D.C, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama had the highest death rates. (USFA)American Indian males and African American Males have the highest fire death rates per million population. (NFPA)If you took 6 airplanes that can each hold 200 people, and they all crashed—killing everyone on board—it would still be less than the number of people that died in unintentional residential fires in the US in 2015.

Haddon Matrix: Risk Factors & Prevention

HADDONMATRIXHost: People at HomeAgent: Cooking with heat; smokingPhysical Environment: HomeSocial Environment: Community normsPre-EventTeach Residents to turn off kitchen appliances and to not smoke inside; Plan fire escape procedures Have appliances that automatically cut off after use; put cigarettes or otherLower flammability of structuresCampaign against smoking or smoking in the home; make sure companies can’t sell defective appliancesEventStop, drop, and roll; use exit strategyHave flame resistant appliances, furniture, etc. Install smoke detectorsN/APost-EventCall 911, make sure everyone is out of the house, CPR and first aid if necessary, alert neighborsN/ARebuild home with safer insulation structures and correct wiring Fund and support local fire department; pass laws requiring smoke detectors

All recommendations listed come from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)Smoke alarms alert people to fire pretty early on, adding more time to exit the building safely. “3/5 home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (38%) or no working smoke alarms (21%).”(NFPA)Programs should be geared toward teaching residents how to make and safely execute a plan of escape, how to maintain smoke detectors, and how to reduce risks of causing fires (like leaving stoves on or smoking indoors or near flammable objects at home).Target Audience: Home owners and Residents

Like most unintentional injuries, residential fires are entirely preventable. Developing safe practices—such as smoking away from the house, properly handling kitchen appliances, and having smoke detectors—will drastically reduce your chances of having a house fire. One in four houses are at risk of fire; do not be the one. Being well informed and willing to educate you and your fellow residents can be the difference between life and death if such a scenario were to occur. No one needs to die or be injured in this entirely preventable tragedy. It is so important that people take an active role in keeping their homes and communities safe. Supporting and funding local fire departments is often an overlooked step in fire safety. People must be willing and able to actively participate in local government to ensure that their fire departments are receiving the best training and money possibly to achieve an effective and trusted team of rescuers. Understanding the importance of fire safety is the first step in keeping a safe home.