Midwest Regional Burn Injury Study: Characteristics of Clothing-Related Burn Accidents

Abstract

Data pertaining to clothing-related bum injuries and deaths are beneficial to the CPSC and other organizations when revising flammability standards and identifying textile products that present hazards to consumers. Existing sources of bum injury data do not adequately sample rural and urban midwest communities. This study evaluates the number and characteristics of clothing-related bum injuries and deaths in Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota for fiscal year 1980 to provide a greater understanding of variables contributing to burn injuries and deaths among a larger segment of the U.S. population. Sources of information for bum injury data were inpatient hospital medical records and files on fire-related deaths at the state fire marshals' ofhces in these states. Multidimensional cross-classification matrices were constructed and analyzed using a log-linear model to determine the relationships among accident variables. Significant interdependent variables in bum injury accidents and deaths were sex and age of victim, activity and location of accident, and the use of flammable liquids and gases.

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