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14
"There can be little doubt that the majority of the burning and scalding
accidents could be avoided if adequate care were given to the construction,
location and handling of the causative agents."
80% of the deaths resulting from extensive burns are due to ignition
of clothing. Most of these are due to the clothing coming into contact
with a heating element or frame of an unguarded or inadequately guarded
fire. The type of fire was open in 66% of cases, electric in 24 and gas in 5.
The chief preventive measure is guarding the fire.
(a) There are certain statutory provisions, the Heating Appliances
(Fireguards) Act, 1952 and the Regulations of 1953. The Public
Health Inspectors visit premises retailing heating appliances, carrying
out tests to ensure that fireguards fitted to gas fires, electric radiators
and oil heaters are efficient. They are finding that goods now in
production comply with the requirements, though some of the older
types of electric and of gas fire do not. The unsatisfactory ones are
cither destroyed or efficient guards are fitted.
(b) The guarding of fires is a subject which is constantly in the
minds of those such as health visitors and public health inspectors
who visit homes, especially those in which there are children. At the
clinics, too, publicity is given to this subject, and it is one of the subjects
included in talks given to school children, to those attending
the clinics, to women's organisations, etc. At times, a special drive
is directed to this.
A second line of defence is the choice of safer garments for women
and children. It had up to this been thought that some fabrics were
dangerously flammable while others were relatively safe. It seems, however,
that this is not so, as virtually all fabrics in common use for clothing
are flammable within fairly narrow limits. This makes it important to
choose sensible garments. Nightdresses account for a substantial proportion
of accidents and pyjamas are much safer, particularly for children.
Full-skirted party dresses and loose flimsy garments require special
caution. Industry and science are co-operating in research on processes
which impregnate fabrics to render them flame resistant. They cost more
than the untreated material, but increased demand might reduce this.
In some cases too they alter the texture of the material. Recent legislation
helps on these lines. Regulations made under the Fabrics (Misdescription)
Act, 1913 which came into force on May 11th, make it an offence to offer
for sale textile fabrics claimed to be flame proof or to have any degree
of flame resistance unless they can pass tests laid down in the appropriate
standard. The important relevant standard is that for low inflammability
fabrics. To earn their label of low-inflammability, fabrics must have a
flame resistance rating of 150, which means that it must take at least
150 seconds for flame to travel up a 100" strip of material. This rating
provides a good level of safety if clothing catches fire; the wearer can quickly
put out the flame or take off the garment. Some materials such as nylon
are naturally flame resistant, others can obtain flame resistance througn
chemical treatment. This flame resistance though can be seriously reducei