Christian Jack, Rothschild Evin, McDonald Eileen M, Shields Wendy, Hodgman Erica, Solomon Barry S, Walter Creason, Ryan Leticia Manning
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Center for Injury Research and Policy, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Inj Prev. 2025 Aug 20. doi: 10.1136/ip-2025-045745.
Fire-related injuries and deaths are significant public health concerns, with high-risk groups including children under 5 years. Although the use of functioning smoke alarms is an effective prevention strategy, many are not regularly tested. This study aims to establish the feasibility of surveying home fire safety practices and awareness of community resources among caregivers visiting a paediatric emergency department (ED).
This feasibility study surveyed a convenience sample of caregivers accompanying children to an urban mid-Atlantic academic paediatric ED. Caregivers reported on the number, location and status of home smoke alarms, fire safety practices, knowledge of community resources, and interest in using a free smoke alarm programme. Enrolment information for programmes was provided. Telephone and email follow-up was conducted at 1 month to determine programme participation and gather feedback about programme enrolment.
Of 166 patients approached, 103 (62%) participated; of these, 40% had children under 5 years residing in the home. Although most participants reported having multiple smoke alarms, only 25% reported testing alarms monthly, and 32% lacked a fire safety plan. About two-thirds (65%) were unaware of community-based smoke alarm programmes, 38% expressed interest in participating, and, of these, 9% reported contact with the programme at follow-up.
There are opportunities to improve home fire safety practices, awareness of smoke alarm programmes and programme participation in this at-risk population. The paediatric ED may be an important setting to provide fire safety education and directly link caregivers to community resources to reduce fire-related risks.
与火灾相关的伤害和死亡是重大的公共卫生问题，高危群体包括5岁以下儿童。尽管使用正常运行的烟雾报警器是一种有效的预防策略，但许多报警器并未定期进行测试。本研究旨在确定对前往儿科急诊科（ED）就诊的看护者进行家庭消防安全实践调查以及了解其对社区资源知晓情况的可行性。
这项可行性研究对陪同儿童前往大西洋中部地区一所城市学术性儿科急诊科的看护者进行了便利抽样调查。看护者报告了家中烟雾报警器的数量、位置和状态、消防安全实践、对社区资源的了解情况以及对使用免费烟雾报警器计划的兴趣。还提供了相关计划的注册信息。在1个月时进行电话和电子邮件随访，以确定计划参与情况并收集有关计划注册的反馈。
在接触的166名患者中，103名（62%）参与了调查；其中，40%的患者家中有5岁以下儿童。尽管大多数参与者报告家中有多个烟雾报警器，但只有25%的人报告每月对报警器进行测试，32%的人没有消防安全计划。约三分之二（65%）的人不知道基于社区的烟雾报警器计划，38%的人表示有兴趣参与，其中9%的人在随访时报告已与该计划取得联系。
在这一高危人群中，有机会改善家庭消防安全实践、提高对烟雾报警器计划的知晓度以及计划参与率。儿科急诊科可能是提供消防安全教育并直接将看护者与社区资源联系起来以降低火灾相关风险的重要场所。
