Urban residential fire and flame injuries: a population based study

Fires are a leading cause of death, but non-fatal injuries from residential fires have not been well characterised. Over the space of a year, residential fire injuries, in a deprived urban area, that resulted in an emergency department visit, hospitalisation or death, were identified by way of a number of different surveillance means. The majority of fire deaths and injuries are due to smoke inhalation. Other injury rates are given as well as some and figures around the source of the fires. In conclusion, because of the varied causes of fire and flame injuries, it is likely that diverse interventions, targeted to those at the highest risk, that is, the elderly, young children and the poor, may be required to address this important public health problem.