*Sent via NCIPC-Announcements Listserv 08/08/2008*

**New CDC Study Finds That Reductions in Smoking Show Promise for
Reducing Home Fire Deaths**

Home fire deaths are higher in states that have a greater percentage of
smokers, according to a new CDC study published this month in the
journal *Injury Prevention*. The study also found that if smoking is
reduced or stopped at home, then it may result in fewer residential fire
deaths. Smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths and accounts
for approximately one-quarter of the 3,000 home fire deaths in the
United States each year. Quitting smoking, as well as following fire
safety recommendations related to smoking, can help reduce the risk of
cigarette-related home fire deaths.

For this study, scientists used national data from two sources to look
at the percentage of current smokers and home fire deaths across 49
states and the District of Columbia, excluding Hawaii.

**Where can I learn more?**

Read the complete article here:
[[http://press.psprings.co.uk/ip/august/228_ip17004.pdf]{.underline}](http://press.psprings.co.uk/ip/august/228_ip17004.pdf)
and the related Q&As below.

**Q: What did this study find?**

This study makes a stronger case for what individual-level studies have
shown in the past, which is that smoking has a direct relationship to
residential fire deaths. We found that home fire deaths are high in
states with high smoking rates, and even a modest decrease in the
percentage of current smokers may correspond to substantially lower fire
death rates at the state-level. It was the first to use national data
from two different national sources (WISQARS and BRFSS) to show the
relationship between cigarette smoking and residential fire deaths
across the country.

**Q: Which states had the highest rates of residential fire mortalities?
Did those states also have the highest rates of reported smoking among
adults surveyed? Does CDC have a chart that I can use to see what's
happening in my state?\
**

The focus of our study was to look at all the states, as a combined
whole, and to examine the potential impact of changes in smoking on home
fire death rates. Because we were really looking at the numbers
together, we didn't focus on specific states or make state-by-state
comparisons.

We do have a chart that shows, for each state, how many home fire deaths
were reported in 2004, as well as what percentages of people reported
that they smoke cigarettes.
[[http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fire.htm]{.underline}](http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fire.htm).
You can also find state-specific fire mortality data on the CDC WISQARS
website at
[[www.cdc.gov/ncipc/WISQARS/]{.underline}](http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/WISQARS/)
and state-specific tobacco smoking data at CDC's BRFSS website at
[[www.cdc.gov/BRFSS]{.underline}](http://www.cdc.gov/BRFSS).

**Q. What are some activities CDC is doing to reduce fire death and
injury rates in the U.S.?**

CDC has partnered with the Meals On Wheels Association of America
(MOWAA) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) to
develop and implement a program called Fire H.E.L.P. - an effort to
reduce fire-related injuries and loss of life and property among
homebound older adults.

Also, since 1998, CDC has funded smoke alarm installation and fire
safety education programs in high-risk communities. These are
communities with fire death rates that are higher than state and
national averages and average household incomes below the poverty level.
As of September 2007, an estimated 1,589 lives have been saved from the
program, and staff have installed nearly 350,000 long-lasting smoke
alarms.

A podcast on the Fire H.E.L.P. program is at available online at
[[http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=7014]{.underline}](http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=7014).

**Q: What can people do to stay safer from residential fires?**

It's important to remember that smoking is a risk factor for home fires,
and that quitting smoking is a first step people can take to reduce
their risk. Those who continue to smoke should smoke only outside of
their homes. Some other tips that people can follow to help prevent home
fires include:

-   If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, quit.

-   Never smoke in bed or leave burning cigarettes unattended.

-   Don't empty smoldering ashes in a trash can, and keep ashtrays away
    from upholstered furniture and curtains.

-   Never leave food unattended on a stove.

-   Keep cooking areas free of flammable objects, like potholders and
    towels, and avoid wearing clothes with long, loose-fitting sleeves
    when cooking.

-   Never place portable space heaters near flammable materials (such as
    drapery).

-   Keep all matches and lighters out of reach of children. Store them
    up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.

-   Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home, including the
    basement, and especially near rooms in which people sleep.

-   Use long-life smoke alarms with lithium-powered batteries and test
    them every month to ensure they work properly.

-   Write-up a family fire escape plan and practice it every six months.
    In the plan, describe at least two different ways each family member
    can escape every room, and pick a safe family meeting place in front
    of the home.

**Q: How can this study tell if those killed in residential fires were
smokers, or that the fires that resulted in fatalities were in fact
started by a burning cigarette?**

Our data came from two different data sources, so we weren't able to
determine whether the individuals who were smokers were the ones
involved in a fatal residential fire. Again, the focus of this study was
to look at the broad health impact at a population-level, rather than to
focus on the individual cases of fire deaths. What we do know, however,
is that smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths--- and our
findings are consistent with studies that have looked at
individual-level associations between smoking and home fire deaths.

**Q: Why might a state, like Ohio, have an above-average percentage of
adult residents who smoke (even higher than Mississippi), but a lower
than average rate of deaths from residential fires?**

The focus of our study was to look at all the states, as a combined
whole, and to examine the potential impact of changes in smoking on home
fire death rates. Because we were really looking at the numbers
together, we didn't focus on specific states or make state-by-state
comparisons.

There are many factors that influence an individual's risk for smoking
or dying in a home fire. And there are many factors that may explain
smoking rates and home fire deaths at the state-level too. Although our
study accounted for two major factors, education and income, we didn't
investigate some of the other factors that may explain why a state may
have specific rates of smoking and specific rates of home fire deaths.
Other factors that we didn't examine include housing type (living in
manufactured homes or substandard housing is a risk factor), age
(children and older adults, ages 65 and above are at higher risk),
presence of smoke alarms, and others. More information on risk factors
is available on our online fact sheet at
[[http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fire.htm]{.underline}](http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fire.htm).

**Q: How can you tell, from the data, whether people who reported
"smoking every day or some days" smoked in their homes?**

The BRFSS data do not describe where individuals smoke. However, we know
that many residential fires caused by tobacco products start in the
bedroom or living room, and the most common items ignited are
upholstered furniture, trash, mattresses, and pillows.

**Q: Did anything from the findings surprise you?**

Our findings confirm what previous research at the individual-level has
found and are consistent with studies that have compared projected and
actual reductions in home fire deaths associated with reductions in
smoking.

**Q: The study says that smoking is the 4th leading cause of residential
fires - what are numbers 1, 2, and 3?**

Smoking is actually the 4th leading cause of residential fires that
resulted in an injury (#1 was cooking, #2 was heating equipment, #3 was
candles). Smoking is the 7th leading cause of all residential fires
(#1=cooking, #2=heating equipment, #3=electrical equipment,
#4=intentional, #5=candles, #6=clothes dryer or washer).

It's important to note that, even though residential fires are often
started by other means than smoking, smoking is still the #1 cause of
residential fire *deaths.*

**Q: In 2003, smoking caused an estimated 15,500 residential fires, 690
related deaths, etc. Is this the latest year of data? Since the study
compares 2004, why is 2003 data given?**

The information on smoking related fires comes from the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA), which has a completely different system
for collecting these data (based on national fire incident reports and a
special survey NFPA conducts each year). When we wrote this paper, this
was the most recent data available on smoking related fires.

**Q: The study says that Vermont had a rate of zero deaths and
Mississippi's rate was 2.72, 2.7 times the national average. How can I
see and compare rates in the different states?**

We have a chart that shows state-level data on fire deaths as well as
percentages of people who reported smoking by state. You can find it at
this web site:
[[http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fire.htm]{.underline}](http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fire.htm).

**Q: Is Utah a model state for smoking and fire death rates? Is
Mississippi doing something wrong?**

Our study did not focus on specific states and the factors that may
contribute to their smoking and home fire death rates. It is beyond the
scope of this study to be able to tell what individual states are doing,
or not doing. From our data, we don't have the necessary information to
be able to make that determination. If you are interested in a
particular state, we would encourage you to contact the state public
health department to discuss their activities.

**Q: Do you have any further information on fire-safe cigarettes and
their impact on this problem?**

More information on fire-safe cigarettes can be obtained from the
Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes
([[http://www.firesafecigarettes.org]{.underline}](http://www.firesafecigarettes.org/))
coordinated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

**Q: Does CDC have information on the best methods for quitting
smoking?**

Nicotine is an addictive drug, and usually people make several tries
before they successfully quit. Using proven cessation treatments, such
as FDA-approved medications and/or individual, group or phone
counseling, can increase the chance of success two to three-fold. Each
time a person tries to quit, he/she can learn what works and what
situations are problematic. The Public Health Service (PHS) Clinical
Practice Guideline, *Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update,*
provides the latest evidence-base for helping people successfully quit.

According to the 2008 PHS Guidelines, individual, group, and telephone
(quitline) counseling are effective, and there is a strong link between
the intensity of counseling and the success rate. It is ideal for
everyone trying to quit to seek some form of counseling and
support---and nearly everyone can benefit from using a medication. The
good news is that there are now more cessation treatment options
available for smokers than ever before, including counseling and
medications, or a combination of both. The FDA has approved 7
medications to help smokers quit including nicotine replacement
therapies such as nicotine gum, patch, nasal spray, inhaler, and
lozenge, and non-nicotine medications such as Bupropion SR and
Varenicline (Chantix).

Thinking about quitting may make smokers anxious, but chances of success
are better with proper preparation. Before quitting, a person should
START by taking these five important steps:

[[S = Set]{.underline}](http://www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/set.html)
a quit date.

[[T =
Tell]{.underline}](http://www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/tell.html)
family, friends, and coworkers and ask for support.

[[A =
Anticipate]{.underline}](http://www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/anticipate.html)
and plan for the challenges that may arise while quitting.

[[R =
Remove]{.underline}](http://www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/remove.html)
cigarettes and other tobacco products from homes, cars, and work places,
and make those environments smoke-free.

[[T =
Talk]{.underline}](http://www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/talk.html) with
doctors or other health care professionals about getting help to quit.

Smokers can also call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free telephone-based counseling
from anywhere in the United States.