Fire Safety Knowledge Research Articles

Teaching safety at a summer camp: Evaluation of a fire safety curriculum in an urban community setting

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of the Danger Rangers Fire Safety Curriculum in increasing the fire safety knowledge of low-income, minority children in an urban community setting. MethodsData was collected from child participants via teacher/researcher administered pre-, post-, and retention tests. A self-administered questionnaire was collected from parents pre- and post-intervention to assess fire/burn prevention practices. Paired t-tests were conducted to compare pre-, post-, and retention test mean scores by grade group. McNemar's test was used to determine if there was a change in parent-reported prevention practices following the intervention. ResultsThe first/second grade group and the third grade group scored significantly higher on the post- and retention test as compared to the pre-test (p<0.0001 for all comparisons). There was no significant change in scores for the pre-k/k group after the intervention. There was a significant increase in 2 of 4 parent-reported fire/burn-related prevention practices after the intervention. ConclusionFire safety knowledge improved among first to third grade children, but not among pre-kinder and kindergarten children who participated in the intervention. This study also showed that a program targeted towards children and delivered in a classroom setting has the potential to influence familial prevention practices by proxy.

Utilization of the Haddon Matrix to Organize Factors of Survived Accidental Residential Fires: Frequencies for Human, Agent, and Environment-related Variables

Drawing upon interviews of 183 people who have survived accidental residential fires, this study adopted the basic concepts (human, agent, environment) of the Haddon Matrix to organize factors associated with survived accidental residential fires where there was no fire death or serious injury with extended hospitalization involved. Human activities during a fire were also identified, including how people first alerted to the presence of a fire and how they attempted to extinguish a fire. Electrical failure and unattended cooking were found to be the leading causes of survived fires. Kitchens and bedrooms were reported as the main rooms of fire origin. The study revealed four important new findings. These new findings are: 1) people’s knowledge of fire safety and awareness of unsafe fire behaviours was extremely limited; 2) an overwhelming majority of hosts had previous fire experiences at the time of the survey; 3) risk factors that are documented elsewhere to be highly related to fire fatalities were found not to be closely related to survived fires, such as alcohol, drugs, smoking, and being asleep; and 4) the majority of hosts took proactive actions when facing a fire, such as calling fire brigade, attempting to extinguish a fire, and trying to alert others. The Haddon Matrix was found to be a useful tool for organizing a wide range of relevant accidental residential fire variables, with the current paper presenting important new information about the frequencies of such variables where no fire death or serious injury has occurred.

Investigation of Fire Safety Awareness and Management in Mall

In spite of having sufficient fire safety system installed in buildings, the incidence of fire hazard becomes the furthermost and supreme threat to health and safety, as well as property to any community. In order to make sure that the safety of the building and its users, the fundamental features depends on the fire precaution system and equipment which should be according to the standard requirements. Nevertheless, the awareness on fire safety could necessarily alleviate the damages or rate of fatality during the event of fire. This paper presents the results on the investigation of fire safety awareness and management, concentrating on shopping mall. The endeavour of this study is to explore the level of fire safety knowledge of the users in the mall, and to study the effectiveness level of fire safety management in a mall. From the study, public awareness is highly related to understanding human behaviour and their personal background. The respondents' levels of awareness are rather low, which reflects on their poor action when facing emergency situation during fire. The most effective methods identified to improve the awareness and effectiveness of fire safety level is through involvement in related fire safety programmes, distribution of pamphlets or brochures on fire safety and appointing specific personnel for Emergency Response Team in the mall.

Suitsusaunade põlengutest ja nende ärahoidmisest

There are relatively few smoke saunas in Estonia today. Most are located in the south-eastern parts of the country: Old Võromaa and Setomaa. Unfortunately, skills and knowledge of fire safety in connection with smoke saunas are no longer as widespread as they used to be. As the smoke sauna tradition of the Võromaa people has been presented as a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage List, the use and construction of smoke saunas has intensified and the protection of the smoke sauna heritage has become particularly topical.The authors provide an overview of the main reasons smoke saunas catch fire and outline the construction and utilisation methods that help prevent fires. In order to do so, it is recommended to keep the wood and stove as far as possible from each other and to make sure that there is nothing else that a fire can ‘latch onto’. It is also good to surround the stove with a structure made of fireproof material. The rocks in the stove must also be periodically re-stacked. Smoke saunas must be kept clean and users must make sure that the flames do not rise up through the rocks in the stove. It is good if the sauna is always heated by the same person: someone who knows its properties and how to heat it.

Smoke Transport Calculation during a Wooden Residential Structure Fire

This is a case study of cottage housing in Taiwanese military dependents’ villages that are primarily wooden structures with brick walls. When a fire ignited in one of these structures, sufficient air on the exterior of the building promoted the rapid ignition of the wooden structure. Because residents were a woman and child who lacked fire safety and escape knowledge, the fire resulted in two deaths. When fires ignite in wooden structures, toxic particulates in the smoke generated from the burning and decomposition spread rapidly because of thermal buoyancy effect, causing difficulties for escape and rescue. This research utilizes the fire dynamics simulator (FDS) software to simulate the fire scenario to discuss the impacts of smoke diffusion at a fire site and analyze the main causes of the fire. We also provide suggestions in the hope of offering information on fire safety precautions for this structure type to prevent future similar disasters.

INNOVATIONS IN CHILD INJURY PREVENTION: EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS FIRE SAFETY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND PLAYGROUND SAFETY FOR OLDER CHILDREN

BackgroundUnintentional injury is a leading cause of child mortality, and many of these are preventable events. Innovative approaches that change safety attitudes and/or behaviours are recognised as an important aspect...

Fire Safety in Procedural Areas

Today many surgical procedures are migrating to nontraditional settings such as radiology departments, cardiac catheterization labs, and electrophysiology labs to be performed. It is reported that annually there are 550 to 650 operating room fires. Knowledge of fire safety and prevention techniques for all staff working in these nontraditional settings is essential. Understanding the components of the fire triangle will facilitate staff to control and prevent fires in all procedural areas.

An evaluation of The Great Escape: Can an interactive computer game improve young children's fire safety knowledge and behaviors?

Fire is a leading cause of unintentional injury and, although young children are at particularly increased risk, there are very few evidence-based resources available to teach them fire safety knowledge and behaviors. Using a pre-post randomized design, the current study evaluated the effectiveness of a computer game (The Great Escape) for teaching fire safety information to young children (3.5-6 years). Using behavioral enactment procedures, children's knowledge and behaviors related to fire safety were compared to a control group of children before and after receiving the intervention. The results indicated significant improvements in knowledge and fire safety behaviors in the intervention group but not the control. Using computer games can be an effective way to promote young children's understanding of safety and how to react in different hazardous situations.

The effectiveness of a culturally sensitive burn and fire prevention program designed for inner city school students and parents

IntroductionInjury prevention has become a major healthcare priority. Burns, a leading cause of death in children, often occur in minority based, lower socio-economic neighbourhoods. This study sought to determine if...

The Development of the Residential Fire H.E.L.P. Tool Kit

This article describes the development of the Fire H.E.L.P. tool kit for training selected Meals On Wheels (MOW) staff in Texas to implement a fire safety program for homebound older adults. We used a formative evaluation approach during the tool kit's development, testing, and initial implementation stages. The tool kit includes instructional curricula on how to implement Fire H.E.L.P., a home assessment tool to determine a residence's smoke alarm needs, and fire safety educational materials. During the tool kit's pilot test, MOW participants showed enhanced fire safety knowledge and high levels of confidence about applying their newfound training skills. After the pilot test, MOW staff used the tool kit to conduct local training sessions, provide fire safety education, and install smoke alarms in the homes of older adults. We believe the approach used to develop this tool kit can be applied to education efforts for other, related healthy home topics.

Sustainability of an In-Home Fire Prevention Intervention

Residential fires remain a challenge in many parts of the United States. This project assessed the sustainability of a community-based fire prevention intervention on household fire safety knowledge and practices. The design was a prospective, cohort study including preintervention and postintervention surveys, which assessed participants' fire safety knowledge and behavior. The implementation of an in-home visit to educate parents of third- and fourth-grade students on escape planning coupled with the installation of smoke alarms can be successful in increasing basic fire safety knowledge and household fire safety practices.

EVALUATED COMMUNITY FIRE SAFETY INTERVENTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES: A REVIEW OF CURRENT LITERATURE

The purpose of the study was to assess the state of fire prevention research, provide an updated synthesis of evaluated fire prevention programs, and discuss the role of fire fighters and data systems in prevention efforts. The review included all evaluations of U.S. based fire prevention interventions published between January 1998 and September 2004 and any earlier articles about U.S. fire prevention interventions not included in two prior review articles. We retrieved information from each identified study including evaluation findings, involvement of fire service personnel and use of existing data systems. We identified twelve articles: seven reported on smoke alarm interventions, three on multi-faceted programs, and two other programs. Five programs involved fire service personnel in the design, implementation, and/or evaluation, and three used existing data systems. Studies reviewed suggest that canvassing and smoke alarm installations are the most effective means of distributing alarms and increasing the functional status of distributed alarms. The functionality of smoke alarms, an issue noted in earlier reviews, remains a problem. Programs involving partnerships with fire departments have indicated success in preventing fires and deaths, improving smoke alarm ownership and functional status, and improving children's fire safety knowledge. Using existing data systems to target and to evaluate interventions was effective. In the years since prior reviews, some improvements in the rigor of evaluation designs have been made, but there is still a need for high quality evaluations that will inform fire injury prevention efforts.

Fire Safety Knowledge and Practices Among Residents of an Assisted Living Facility

Assisted living facilities (ALFs) pose unique fire risks to the elderly that may be linked to specific fire safety (FS) practices. To evaluate self-reported FS practices among ALF residents. All residents of a small ALF were surveyed regarding actual and hypothetical FS behaviors, self-perceived fire risk, and FS preparedness. Fifty-eight ALF residents completed the survey. Thirty-three (58%) individuals reported one or more disabilities. Seven (12%) residents ignored the fire alarm and 21 (35%) could not hear it clearly. Sixteen (28%) residents would attempt to locate the source of a fire rather than escape from the building. Only 24 (42%) residents were familiar with the building fire plan. Twenty-three (40%) people surveyed believed that they were not at risk of fire in the study facility. Residents of an ALF may be at increased fire injury risk due to their FS practices and disabilities.

Can nursing facility staff with minimal education be successfully trained with computer-based training?

This study compares the effects of computer-based and instructor-led training on long-term care staff with a high school education or less on fire safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Findings show that both methods of instruction were effective in increasing staff tests scores from pre- to posttest. Scores of both groups were lower at follow-up three months later but continued to be higher than at pretest. Staff with a high school education increased scores more than those without a high school diploma.

Code Red in the OR—Implementing an OR Fire Drill

KNOWLEDGE OF FIRE PREVENTION and fire safety is essential for every OR staff member. In the event of a surgical fire, the quick and knowledgeable response of surgical team members will affect their own safety and that of their patients. A NEW FIRE SAFETY PLAN was developed at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury Md. To update staff members' knowledge of the facility's fire plan and special instructions for the OR, a comprehensive educational program on fire safety was presented, and an OR fire drill was conducted. THIS ARTICLE describes the facility's quest to improve knowledge of fire safety by providing multiple educational opportunities.

'When you smell smoke…': 'Risk factors' and fire safety in action

A neglected way of talking about risk is to focus on one of its correlates, 'safety'. This study examines how fire-safety knowledge is put into action. We are concerned with how knowledge of household fire 'risk factors' may, or may not, gain a concrete existence in the interactions between firefighters and householders. Using a 'translation' model loosely derived from Actor-Network-Theory, we show the complexity of the social interactions that constitute safety in action. The aim is not to critique the 'risk factors' approach and its epidemiological underpinnings; nevertheless, the implication is that proponents of the 'risk factors' approach need to understand the interactions where risk and safety are socially embedded, for this is where they gain their life.

火災知識・行動判断の避難経路選択への影響 : 学校における児童の火災避難行動に関する基礎的研究 その3

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the influences of children's fire safety knowledge on evacuation behavior in elementary school. We surveyed children at 13 elementary schools with our questionnaire. The results are summarized as follows; 1) The majority of children have basic fire safety knowledge, but above half the number of children do not understand smoke flow and whether to open or shut windows in a fire. 2) Having fire safety knowledge influences more or less the judgment of a correct route, but it is not a determining factor. 3) Most children in a fire during recess tend to act in a group with their teachers. 4) Children who will behave actively tend to judge a correct route more than the non-active children.

Evaluation of a fire-safety training program for preschool children

Children under the age of 5 are 2.5 times more likely to die from fire than any other childhood age group. The work described here is an empirical evaluation of a fire-safety program for preschool children, involving 10 child-care facilities and 443 children ages 3, 4 and 5 years. Children in six centers received an 18-week fire-safety training program called Kid Safe. Children in four other centers were assigned to the delayed-treatment condition and constituted the comparison group. All children were pretested using a comprehensive measure of fire-safety knowledge before the start of the study. The same test was readministered to all children following presentation of the program to the treatment group. At each of the three ages, children in the treatment group showed significantly greater knowledge gains from pretest to post-test than did children in the comparison group. Interestingly, 3-year-olds showed the greatest change of any age group. These findings provide support for the value of training preschool children in fire safety as an important strategy for injury prevention in this age group. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The short-term effects of a fire safety education program for the elderly.

The high risk of fire death and injury among elderly people is well documented. To be effective, fire safety education must reach older adults in the settings in which they reside: nursing homes and other long-term care institutions, board and care homes, and independent living facilities including the person's own home. Training must also be targeted at the people who are responsible for fire safety. In the case of the nursing home or board and care home, the responsible people are the staff and owners. In the case of the majority of older adults who live independently in their homes, it is either the individual or family members. These programs must also be comprehensive. A fire safety education curriculum was developed by a group of experts in a variety of related fields including fire safety, gerontology, health care industry, developmental disabilities, research, and instructional design. Older adults were included in each planning session. Based on that curriculum, workshops and workshop materials were developed for each of the three target populations: staff of health care facilities, staff and owners of board and care homes, and elderly people living independently in their homes. Materials included both print and audiovisuals. A pilot test of each workshop was conducted to test the short-term effects of the programs. Results indicated significant gains in knowledge for all groups and a significant improvement in positive attitudes toward fire safety for most participants. Measures of effects of the programs on intentions to change fire safety practices indicated a potential for change. Results also showed that the measured traits, knowledge of fire safety and attitudes toward fire safety, were relatively stable.

Fire safety/prevention skills training to reduce involvement with fire in young psychiatric inpatients: Preliminary findings

This study evaluated the effects of a brief cognitive-behavioral skills training curriulum designed to reduce firesetting among young, psychiatrically hospitalized children. Children were randomly assigned to a group Fire Safety/Prevention Skills Training group (FSST; n=12) or an individual Fire Assessment/Awreness (FAA; n=12) condition. FSST emphasized instruction and practice in fire safety concepts and preventive activities using didactic presentation, modeling, role-playing, self-instructions, and reinforcement, whereas FAA children met individually with a staff nurse to assess/discuss firesetting behavior. Based on multivariate and univariate analyses, FSST was associated at posttraining with a significant reduction in contact with fire-related toys and matches in an analogue task and an increase in fire safety knowledge. Parent-reports at 6-month follow-up indicated less overall involvement with fire for FSST than FAA children. Contact with matches in an analogue task and low fire safety knowledge at posttraining were associated with follow-up matchaplay. Implications for assessment of and intervention with young firesetters are discussed.