Objective: We sought to link existing, independent data sets related to housefires (HF) and injuries, in order to develop surveillance for deaths and injuries related to HF, and to use this database to define the epidemiology of HF-injuries.
Methods: For 1991-97, we linked data from the following sources: EMS (ambulance transports), hospital admissions (the only hospital with a burn unit), Medical Examiner reports (fatal injuries), and fire department records of all HF (excluding apartments) in Dallas. We used census data to calculate HF-injury rates for the population living in houses
Results: 223 injuries (91 fatal, 132 non-fatal) resulted from 7190 housefires from 1991-97 (5.2/100,000 population/yr). HF-injury rates (per 100k/yr) were higher among African-Americans (9.7) than other groups (3.7)(RR=2.64, 95%CL, 2.0-3.4), and highest in young children and the elderly. HF-injury rates were higher in fires which started in bedrooms or living areas than in other areas (RR=7.7, 95% CL 4.5-12.5). When analyzed by census tract, tracts with lowest income had highest HF-injury rates (RR 8.1, 95% CL 2.5-32.0 for lower vs higher income). The rate of injury (per 100 HF) was higher in HF without SD than in HF with SD (RR 1.55, 95% CL 1.02-2.3). Prevalence of working SD in HF was lowest in tracts with lowest median income.
Conclusions: Surveillance of HF-injuries using linked, existing data, is feasible and less costly than some other methods. It allows interventions, such as SD distribution programs, to be targeted to areas at greatest risk, and may allow evaluation of the efficacy of such interventions.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the major risk factors for housefire-related injuries and death. 2. Define the datasets needed to establish a linked database for surveillance of housefire-related injuries. 3. Discuss possible uses for such a surveillance system
Keywords: Burns, Surveillance
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.