Home fire safety practices in an urban pediatric emergency department population

Background/Purpose: Risk factors for residential fire death are prevalent among urban pediatric emergency department (ED) patients. Resources are available in Washington, DC to provide free smoke detector installation. Our study describes home fire safety practices and awareness of community-based resources in this vulnerable population.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a brief survey was administered to a convenience sample of caregivers accompanying patients 0-19 years of age in an urban pediatric ED in Washington, DC. Survey contents focus on residential fire injury risk factors and participant knowledge of available community-based resources. Descriptive epidemiologic analysis of responses was conducted.

Results/Outcomes: This analysis included 401 caregivers (62% participation rate). Patients accompanying the caregivers were 48% male, 77% African American and had a mean age of 6.5 (± 5.9) years. Of study participants, 256 (63.8%) lived with children £ 5 years of age. A home smoke detector was reported by 396 respondents (98.7%); however, 346 (86.3%) reported testing these less than monthly. 256 (63.8%) lacked a carbon monoxide detector and 202 (50.4%) had no fire escape plan. 65 (16%) reported indoor smoking and 92 (22.9%) reported space heater use. When asked about available community-based resources, 240 (59.9%) were unaware of these programs, 319 (79.6%) were interested in participating, and 221 (55.1%) enrolled.

Conclusions: While self-reported smoke detector prevalence rates are high in our study population, other fire safety practices are suboptimal. Our results also show limited awareness of community-based resources. Prevention strategies should focus on home smoke detector maintenance and carbon monoxide detector use.