USFA: Toddlers at increasing risk for fire injury, death

Washington – Children younger than 4 are at an increased risk of injury or death in residential fires, according to a report (.pdf file) released Feb. 14 by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Based on data from 2007, the report found that although the risk of children younger than 15 dying in a fire is lower than the general population, more than half of all child fire deaths occur among toddlers 4 and younger. Overall, fire and burns were the second leading cause of non-transportation-related accidental death among children.

In light of this risk, FEMA, in conjunction with the National Commission on Children and Disasters, launched a new public awareness campaign to keep children safe from home fires. The campaign includes an updated webpage focused on children’s fire safety and fire prevention tips, a widget that will link to the page, a Facebook tab, and a dedicated Twitter hashtag (#kidsfiresafety) to encourage fire education.