Fire

Fires can be furious and deadly. In 2001, 493 children ages 14 and under died in fires. Despite a dramatic 56 percent decline in the fire death rate since the Safe Kids began in 1988, fires remain a leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children in the United States. 

But there are time-tested ways to prevent fire-related injuries.  Simply installing smoke alarms on every level of your home and in every sleeping area, for instance, cuts the chances of dying in a home fire in half.  Keeping matches, lighters and other heat sources out of children’s reach can help eliminate child-play fires – the leading cause of fire-related death for children 5 and under.

Preparation and education are key elements of preventing fire tragedies.  Planning and practicing a fire escape route with your family, and talking to your children about what to expect in a fire, are simple steps anyone can take.  A prepared child is more likely to escape unharmed.  To learn more, explore the links below.

To learn more about fire and burn injury read A Report to the Nation: Trends in Unintentional Childhood Injury Mortality, 1987-2000 (May 2003).

To purchase educational materials about fire safety, check out our Resource Catalog (off-site link).