Presentation at the meeting held in Edmonton on November 1, 2007 on, “Fire Safety Research for Better Building Design” Institute for Research in Construction, NRC Mahendra Wijayasinghe, PhD Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) Making sense of smoke alarm data and home fire deaths

2 Mission: Lead Alberta’s Emergency Management System in the interest of public safety for all Albertans. Mandate: We are accountable and responsible to our government and to Albertans for effectively ensuring the protection of people, their property, their communities and industry, and their environment from the effects of emergency events. Motto: Alberta – A Province Prepared! The Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA)

3 Outline Fire losses in Alberta Fire losses by property class Fire death rates Smoke alarms as early warning devices Background Fire deaths in homes with smoke alarms Unanswered questions on smoke alarms

4 Fire losses in Alberta: YearFiresDeathsInjuries$ Losses 19966, ,556, , ,964, , ,492, , ,519, , ,724, , ,233, , ,667, , ,361, , ,624, , ,649,926 Total61, ,6152,213,793,920

5 Fire deaths per 100,000 population

6 Property classFiresDeathsInjuries$ Losses Assembly1, ,921,840 Institutional ,282,764 Residential17, ,302733,963,430 Business and Personal Service ,710,269 Mercantile1, ,330,255 Industrial Manufacturing Properties 1, ,622,695 Storage Properties3, ,409,401 Special Property- Transportation Equip. 29, ,932,847 Miscellaneous Property 5, ,620,419 Total61, ,6152,213,793,920 Fire losses by property class:

7 Smoke alarms as early warning devices

8 Background… July, First legislated requirement for smoke alarms in AB homes “As a minimum requirement, all dwellings built before July 5, 1977 must have battery operated smoke alarms. ” According to 2001 Census housing stock figures 593,585 or 54% of dwellings in Alberta were expected by law to have at least battery operated smoke alarms installed in them.

9 Background…(continued) Statistics Canada estimates ~ 96% of Alberta households have at least one smoke alarm 96% and 81% of households in US and UK have smoke alarms (Hall, 2005) However, Fire statistics in AB indicate only 59% of homes that experienced fires had smoke alarms installed Corresponding figures for the US and UK were, 62% and 43%, respectively (Hall, 2005).

10 Fires, smoke alarms and fire fatalities in AB homes: 1994 – 2003 Smoke alarm status Fires% Fires Deaths% Not Installed 6, Installed9, Total15,

11 “Passive” strategies are more effective than “active” interventions (Rivara, 1997) “Active” human intervention is required to ensure smoke alarms will provide the early warning protective function for which they are designed. Passive vs. Active safety measures

12 Purchase:  Smoke alarms conforming to CAN/ULC-S531 Installation:  At least one smoke alarm on each level of the home and outside all sleeping areas  Smoke alarms inside bedrooms and,  Interconnected smoke alarms Maintenance:  Test smoke alarm monthly  Ensure constant power supply  Replace battery once/year, or ensure connection to household electricity  Install a new battery if an alarm “chirps,” low-battery warning  Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. Active interventions ensure smoke alarm protection Safe evacuation: Fire escape plan + practice.

Survey by Duracell and Canada Safety Council: 6% of Alberta residents and 5% of B.C. residents don’t have smoke alarms! 27% of Canadians tested their smoke alarms once in the past year. One-third of respondents have changed the batteries once in the past year. One in four Canadians have removed the batteries from their alarms for a reason other than to replace old batteries. Albertans are the most guilty of this (31%). 70% of Canadians have never practiced a fire drill over the past year

14 The presence of smoke alarms does not guarantee life safety during home fire emergencies Activation of smoke alarms is no guarantee that deaths will be averted.

15 Possible events leading to life or death outcome Please see hand-out

16 Fire death events – initial stages

17 Fire death events – final stages (continued…)

18 Smoke alarm status in AB homes with fatalities Alarm statusDeaths % Not installed9443 Activated3416 Not activated2913 Activation – unknown6228 Total219100

19 Condition of fatalities where smoke alarms activated Condition of fatalities Deaths Asleep at time of fire9 Impaired: alcohol/drugs/medic.7 Physical/mental handicap2 Children: too young/unattended1 Awake and normal6 Condition unknown/unclassified9 Total34

20 Action of fatalities where smoke alarms activated Action of fatalities Deaths Did not act3 Loss of judgment1 Injured while attempting escape4 Received delayed warning3 Entered/remained for rescue/firefighting/saving property 6 Heart attack, over-exertion1 Condition unknown/unclassified16 Total34

21 Translating fire safety knowledge to public education/awareness messages The fire service as pioneers in public education - a 100 years or more However, research to support these programs is inadequate Research in the health promotion field has gained momentum to support evidence-based health programming ( smoking cessation, mammography, etc ) A few studies in fire safety/smoke alarms How can we encourage more research?

22 Unanswered questions on smoke alarms  Children’s sleeping patterns and smoke alarms?  Photoelectric versus ionization?  False alarms?  Smoke alarm maintenance?  Replacement of old smoke alarms (10 yrs+)?

23