NBSIR 73-145

STUDY OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ACTIVITY,

REACTION, GARMENT PARAf.iETER PATTERNS

AND INJURY SEVERITY FOR FIRE INCIDENTS

INVOLVING APPAREL

Laura Baker Buchbinder

Fire Technology Division

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

April, 1973

Interim Report for Period • September 1972 - February 1973

Prepared for The Cotton Foundation

1918"North Parkway

Memphis, Tennessee 38112

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMfi/lERCE. Frederick 8. Dent. Secretaiv

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STAr\JDARDS. Richard W. Roberts. Director
4I
CONTENTS

Page

1. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE OF STUDY 1

1.1. Introduction 1

1.2. Purpose of Study 2

2. INTERIM REPORT CONTENTS 2

3. STUDY DESCRIPTION , . . . 3

3.1 Pilot Study 3

3.2 Data Collection from Case Histories 3

3.3 Classification of Data Form Case Histories . . 4

3.4 FFACTS Data File Input to Analysis 18

'

3.5 Injury Severity Index Development 18

3.6 Analysis of Data 18

4. CURRENT STATUS AND REMAINING EFFORT 19

4.1 Current Status 19

4.2 Remaining Effort 20

Appendix. , 21

References 30

Bibliography , 30

STUDY OF RELATIONSFIIPS BETV/EEN ACTIVITY, REACTION,

GARMENT PARAMETER PATTERNS AND INJURY SEVERITY

FOR FIRE INCIDENTS INVOLVING APPAREL

AN INTERIM REPORT

1. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE OF STUDY

1.1. Introduction

It is generally accepted that burn accidents result

from the interaction of a number of environmental, human,

and physical factors. The circumstances leading to

the accident, the nature of the accident itself, the involvement of flammable fabrics and/or flammable liquids, the

availability of help, and the reaction of the victim to the

fire are all variables which may differentiate between a

minor accident and a major burn injury [2,4]-'-.

The extent and severity of a burn injury largely determine the consequent human and economic cost [1,3,4,5]. Partial

thiclcness (1st and 2nd degree) burns involving 10% or less

of the total body area are relatively easy to treat, usually

do not require extensive hospitalization and generally result

in no permanent disfigurement, while 2nd and 3rd degree burns'

involving 50% or more of the total body area require prolonged,

expensive hospital care and often result in death to the

victim. Burns of a level between the extremes may result in

a variety of consequences depending upon the location and

.severity of the burn, the age and physical condition of the

victim, and the treatment received.

Previous investigations of fire accident loss using data

from the National Bureau of Standards, Fire Technology Division, Flammable Fabrics Accident Case and Testing System

(FFACTS) , have primarily dealt with one or two parameters at

a tim.e in describing the numbers of accidents and deaths in

fires involving flammable fabrics. Little has been done thus

•far to relate level of severity of burn injury to the interaction of environmental, human, and physical factors surrounding apparel fire accidents.

Figures in brackets indicate the literature references at

the end of this paper.

o

1
1.2. Purpose of Study

The purpose of this study is to identify patterns in

those variables which describe the activity preceding the

accident, the reactions of the victim to ignition, the

paramenters of the fabrics and garments involved, and the

level of severity of the injury, and to define the extent and

nature of the relationships between these accident variables.

The study will be based on an analysis of FFACTS data.

The relationships defined in the study will aid in defining the types of remedial action (such as educational programs,

redesign of ignition sources, and voluntary or mandatory standards) which are likely to be most effective in reducing human

and economic loss due to apparel fires.

The multidimensional nature of the study should also

allow a more complete understanding of the total burn problem

and aid in placing the various factors leading to a burn injury

into proper perspective.

2. INTERIM REPORT CONTENTS

The body of this interim report contains a detailed

description of the overall study in section 3, and an outline

of the current status and remaining effort in section 4.

The qualitative nature of the main study variables involving activity, reaction and garment details necessitated the

creation of several variable classification systems. Value

judgements were made in- both the developm.ent and application

of these systems. The appendix of this report contains

preliminary observations, based on reading 500-600 case

histories, on the classification system for one of the study

variables, namely, activity. These detailed observations are

presented to reflect the flavor of the initial activity classifications, to demonstrate the level of detail available from

the case histories, and to show the recurrence of activity

patterns in fire accidents. The final classification of

activities will be made when all cases have been read, and

section 3.3.4. describes how the classifications for activity

and the other main 'study variables will be coded and added to

the FFACTS data file. The classification and coding systems

will not be hierarchal. They will identify recurring behavior

and garment parameter patterns at the lowest classification

level. The combination of these codes, the data already in

FFACTS, and the injury severity index to be developed, will be

used to analyze the relationships between the main study variables.

2
3. STUDY DESCRIPTION

This section outlines the entire study. Section 3.1.

describes the pilot study which defined the scope of the main

study. The method of collecting data from the FFACTS case

histories is detailed in section 3.2. The systems for classification of the collected data in terms of activity pattern,

reaction pattern and garment parameters pattern are presented

in detail in section 3.3. Section 3.3.4. describes the addition of these classifications to the computerized data base.

Section 3.4. defines the use of data already in the FFACTS

data file. The development of an injury severity index is

described in section 3.5. Finally, section 3.6. discusses

the data analysis plans.

3.1. Pilot Study

Prior to beginning the comprehensive research project,

over fifty case histories were studied in detail. It was

determined that the case histories often give detailed information regarding the victim's activity prior to the accident,

the victim's reaction to ignition of clothing, and the configuration of the garment involved, that cannot be retrieved

from the computerized data file. It was also noted that

similar patterns appear again and again in burn accidents,

suggesting that categorization of activities, reactions and

garment parameters might be possible. Information gained

in the pilot study was used to determine the focus and scope

of the more comprehensive study, and aided in the development

of a data collection form designed specifically for this

study.

3.2. Data Collection from Case Histories

3.2.1. Criteria for case selection

The NBS FFACTS data base, numbering 1,96 4 cases at the

cutoff date of November 1, 197 2, was used for this study.

The cases selected from that data base for detailed analysis

were those involving apparel for which information was available on the total area of body burned, and on either the

activity preceding the burn or the reaction to ignition, or

both.

3.2.2. Development of Data collection form

The FFACTS computerized file is comprehensive, with up

to 200 data elements coded for each fire accident. The data

are derived from detailed incident investigation reports

supplied mostly by the Food and Drug Administration using

questionnaires developed in cooperation with the National

Bureau of Standards, Fire . Technology Division. In addition to
the data on the questionnaires, each incident investigation

report contains a narrative description of accident details

based on personal interviews.

A one page data collection form (figure 1) was developed

for recording detailed information given in case narrative

descriptions, to supplement the data available from the -coded

FFACTS file.

3.2.3. Use of data collection form

Cases meeting criteria for inclusion in the study were

read, and pertinent information was entered on the data

collection forms. The case number was included for reference

and flammable liquids involvement was noted, as was the

occurrence of an explosion.

The activity of the victim before and during ignition

was recorded, along with any other pertinent information given

in the case history which might explain the activity or the

reaction of the victim.

A summary of the reactions of the victim and other people

directly involved in the accident, to garment ignition was

recorded for more detailed analysis.

The garment (s) judged to have contributed most to the

severity of the injury were identified and were roughly classified as to degree of fit. Whenever possible the point of

ignition was noted and a comparison made between area of victim

burned and area of garment burned.

3.3. Classification of Data From Case Histories

After data collection forms were completed for over 500

cases, initial classification was made into activity, reaction

and garment configuration categories, as described below.

3.3.1. Activity pattern classification

. An activity pattern classification system (figure 2) was

developed by grouping similar accident activity types. The

criteria used in determining activity classifications were

the ignition source, the location of the accident, and che

activity of the victim at the time of the accident. Specific

activity patterns were grouped and listed under five broad

categories:

° Non-work-related or leisure activities indoors

° Non-work-related or leisure activities outdoors
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Figure 2. Activity Pattern Classification

I. Non-work-related or Leisure Activities—Indoors

A. Smoking and related activities

1. No flammable liquids involved

a. Smoking in bed

(1) Lighting a match or cigarette lighter

(2) Smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe

b. Smoking while under the influence of drugs

(1) Lighting a match or cigarette lighter

(2) Smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe

c. Smoking by the senile, mentally or physically

handicapped

(1) Lighting a match or cigarette lighter

(2) Smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe

d. Other

(1) Lighting a match or cigarette lighter

(2) Smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe

2. Flammable liquids involved

B. Activities near a space heater or open fireplace

1. No flammable liquids involved

a. Warming by heater or fireplace

b. Standing or walking by heater

c. Playing with or near heater

2, Flammable liquids involved

C. Playing indoors with smoking materials

1. No flammable liquids involved

2. Flammable liquids involved

D. Other indoor non-work activities

II. Non-work-related or Leisure Activities —Outdoors

A. Camping out or activities involving an open fire

1. No flammable liquids involved
2. Flammable liquids involved

B. Lighting or tending a charcoal grill-flammable liquid

involved

C. Playing with matches, flammable liquids, fireworks,

or explosives —outdoors

1. Playing with matches

2. Playing with flammable liquids

3'. Playing with fireworks or explosives

D. Other outdoor non-work activities

IIIo Work-related Activities —Indoors

A. Activities involving ranges

1. Ignition from open flame or heating elements - activity classification

a. Actively engaged in food preparation

b. Watching food preparation

c. Warming during food preparation

d. Playing or climbing on or near range

2. Ignition from open flame or heating element - action classification

a. Leaning or reaching over range - front

ignition

Reaching for something over range

Turning away from or walking close to range

Leaning over close to burner

Reaching over front burner to controls at

back

Reaching over front burner to rear burner

b. Leaning or reaching over range - sleeve

ignition

Reaching to pan at rear of range

Moving near range

7

c
c. Leaning, working or standing near range - back ignition

Leaning back against range

Warming self by range

Standing with back to range

Working near or turning away from range

d. Climbing on range

B. Maintaining the home

1. No flammable liquids involved

2. Flammable liquids involved

a. Painting or cleaning paint brushes

^ b. Using volatile glue

c. Tending furnace

d. Other

.3. Explosive ignition

a. Painting or cleaning brushes

b. Lighting furnace or water heater

c. Other

C. Repairing or cleaning automotive or mechanical parts

D. Other

Work-related Activities —Outdoors

A. Working in yard or grounds

1. Burning trash, brush, or grass

a. No flammable liquid involved

(1) Standing near or actively tending firespark ignition

(2) Tending trash fire-explosive flashback

ignition

b. Flammable liquid involved

(1) Flammable liquid added to fire

(2) Flammable liquid on clothing ignites

8
2. Playing with or near existing trash fire

a. No flammable liquids involved

b. Flammable liquids involved

3. Other accidents involving yard maintainance

B. Maintaining or repairing engines, automobiles, etc.

1. Priming carburetor - flammable liquids involved

2o Other mechanical work

V. Job-or Occupation-related Activities

A. Agricultural or outdoor occupations

B. Automotive-related occupations (maintainance or

repair)

C. Manufacturing or industrial occupations

D. Other occupations

9
^ Work-related activities indoors

° Work-related activities outdoors

* Job-or occupation-related activities

Additional activity patterns may be identified when data

collection is completed.

3.3.2. Reaction pattern classification

Since a victim's success in extinguishing a fire is

dependent upon his defensive capability and the type of

defensive action he takes, both of these elements were

included in the reaction classification (figure 3)

.

3.3.2.1. Defensive capability

This classification addresses the capability of the

victim to assess the situation and extinguish the fire

quickly and efficiently.

3.3.2.2. Defensive action

Common reactions of people involved in burn accidents

were identified. To facilitate analysis of the data each

reaction was classified as positive, negative, or neither.

3.3.3. Garment classification

Case histories offer two types of garment information not

readily available from the computer. These are garment conifiguration or geometry and garment contribution to injury, as

detailed below.

3.3.3.1. Garment configuration

Garments involved in fire injuries were classified by

overall shape and degree of fit.

The overall, shape categories were "fitted waistline" and

"nonfitted waistline". Sleeve shapes were classified as well

(figure 4)

.

Degree of fit classification was accomplished with the aic

of sketches (figures 5a, 5b, and 5c) of the garment types

defined in the shape classification. Estimates were made on

the closeness of fit at various areas on the body with "tight

fit" defined as less than 2 inches of ease, "medium fit"

defined as 2 inches - 5 inches of ease and "loose fit"

defined as more than 5 inches of ease. In actual garments,

areas of tight, medium, and loose fit are not well defined

10
Figure 3. Reaction Classification

I. Defensive Capability

A. Positive factors

1. Immediate recognition of danger

2. Normal adult reaction capability

3. Help available

B. Negative factors

1, Delayed recognition of danger

2, Slow or illogical reaction due to age, physical

or mental condition

3, No help available

II. Defensive Action

A. Positive reactions

1. Beat flames with hands

2. Rolled on ground

3. Wrapped in rug, blanket, pillow, etc.

4. Doused with water

5. Tried to remove garment (s)

6. Other

B. Negative reactions

1. Took no immediate action-stunned

2 . Ran '

3. Struggled with help

4. Other

C. Neither positive or negative

1. Ran to escape flames

2, Reaction unknown
Figure 4. Garment Configuration Classification

I. Body of Garment

A. Non-fitted waistline

1. Loose top

a. Blouse or shirt (not tucked in)

b. Pa jama top

2. Semi-loose top

a. Sweater

b. T-shirt

3. Shift

a. A-line dress

b. Duster

c. Gown

4. Long shift

a. Robe

b. Nightgown

c. Formal v;ear

B. Fitted waistline

1. Dress configurations

a. Dress-fitted waistline

b. Shirt and blouse combinations

2. Pants configurations

a. Shirt and pant combination-fitted (shirt

tucked in)

b. Top and pant combination-loose

(1) Pajama bottoms

(2) Coveralls, etc..

12
II, Sleeves

A. Long

1. Straight

2. Bell

3. Bishop

B. Short

lo Straight

2. Puffed

I 3. Fitted knit

13
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14


and vary from garment to garment. It should be noted, therefore, that these sketches offer only a rough approximation

of fit.

Using these representations, garments will be classified

as to their degree of fit both in the area of ignition and in

the area of most severe burn injury.

3.3.3.2. Garment contribution to injury

From information given in the case history and from a comparison of the part of the garment burnedl^/ and the area

of injury, a classification system to define the garment

contribution to the severity of injury was developed. The

following criteria were developed to classify the level of

garment involvement:

® Primary agent

If the garment was first to ignite with no flammable

liquid on the garment and covered the portion of the

body with the most severe burns , the garm.ent may be

considered a primary agent.

® Secondary agent

If there is an indication of a flammable liquid on

the garment at the time of igniton , or if the garment

was not first to ignite or was not Xvorn in the area of

most severe or extensive injury, the garment may be

considered a secondary agent.

° Not involved

If the garment did not ignite and/or affect the level

of injury, the garment may be classified as not

involved.

° Protective

If the injury was more severe in areas not covered by

the garment and the garment self -extinguished or did

not. ignite, the garment may be classified as protective.

This could be most accurately accomplished by comparing the

area burned on the actual garment to the burn diagrams included in the case history. However, due to the time limitations of this study, an approximation of the extent of

involvement and area of the garment burned will be made

using information given in the case narrative.

17
® Unknown

Information given is insufficient to determine garment

involvement

.

In fires where multiple garments were involved, only the

one or in some cases two, garments which were major contributors to the injury will be considered in this study. Cases

in which the victim would have been badly burned regardless

of what he was wearing will not be included.

3.3.4. Classification coding

Upon completion of the classification of cases, codes for

activity, reaction, and garment configuration classifications

(A.C., R.C., and G.C.) will be developed and entered at the

top of each data collection form (figure 1) . These codes will

be added to the computerized FFACTS file.

3.4. FFACTS Data File Input to Analysis

The coded data described in section 3.3.4. represent

the quantification of activity, reaction, and garment

configuration. These data on the main study variable will

be supplemented by data already in the FFACTS data file,

for the analysis phase of the study. The supplementary

data will include such variables as age, sex, economic and

educational level (of victim or family) , as well as garment

weight and fiber content.

3.5. Injury Severity Index Development

One or more candidate injury severity indices will be

developed, based on such factors as total area of body

burned, area of full thickness burn, age of victim and

number of days in hospital. These indices will be added

to the computerized file and used in the initial analyses.

A single such index may emerge to represent injury severity

in subsequent analyses.

3.6. Analysis of Data

The major variables of interest are those which describe

activity, reaction, garments, and injury severity. Additional

variables, such as ignition source, ignition sequence, age

and sex of victim and possibly socio-economic level will be

included in the study so that their influence on the major

variables may be accounted for. Appropriate statistical

techniques will be applied in analyzing the data; the exact

sequence of analyses to be performed will be determined by

the initial results. At a minimum, descriptive methods will

be applied to characterize in detail the relationships

between the major variables for the accident patterns

18
identified. Such systematic tabular and graphical presentations will provide guidance to remedial action programs.

In addition, partial correlation analyses may be performed, and multiple regression analyses will be run if it

appears feasible to represent injury severity as a linear

function of some or all of the other study variables. If

the data do lend themselves to these more sophisticated

analyses, care will be taken to limit the inferences drav/n

to appropriately reflect the manner in which the FFACTS case

were accumulated and the degree to which extrapolations may

properly be made to the national fire accident picture.

4. CURRENT STATUS AND REMAINING EFFORT

This study is predicated upon the quantification of

qualitative data regarding activity, reaction, and garment

configuration. The relationships under investigation are

complex and a large number of case histories is required for

the study because of the large number of combinations of

accident parameters, reflecting different accident types;

therefore, data handling must be automated. Before any detailed analysis is performed, it is necessary to quantify

the main study variables via the classification and coding

process. Until this quantification process is completed,

preliminary results are limited to observations on accident

patterns, such as those presented in the appendix relative

to activity classification. This section outlines the current status and remaining effort.

4.1. Current Status

The following portions of the study have been completed

° Pilot study to define main study scope and develop

data collection form.

Preliminary review of literature.

Completion of 60% of data collection from reading

case histories.

** Development of activity, reaction, and garment

configuration classification systems.

Preliminary observations on activity type classification.

** Completion of an interim report.

19
4.2. Remaining Effort

The remaining effort may be described by the seven areas

listed below:

Completion of data collection - Approximately 500 cases

remain to be read for data collection on the report

forms.

Final classification of activities, reactions, garment

configurations and garment contribution to injury - The

data on the data collection forms will be classified

and coded.

** Completion of literature review - Main area of concern

will be background for injury severity index development .

® Development of severity indices - One or more indices

of injury severity will be developed and coded for each

case

.

Development of computer programs for data analysis - Programs will be written for data retrieval (coded

classification, injury severity indices and previously

'coded FFACTS data), and for analysis.

® Analysis of data - The extent of the analysis will be

governed by the results as they unfold and by the time

available (See section 3.6.).

° Publications - The number and type of publications will

also be governed by the results achieved and time

available. It is anticipated that publications will be

of two types. First, technical exposition of analytical

results in the form of an NBS Technical Note and possibly

papers for presentation to and publication by technical

societies. Second, popularized articles for the general

public, for consumer education.

20
APPENDIX

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON ACTIVITY TYPE CLASSIFICATIONS

Based on the 500-600 FFACTS cases already read, grouped

and classified by activity type, certain patterns v;ere noted

within the various categories. These patterns are tentatively

identified below. The classifications may be modified with

the addition of the remaining data.

1. Non-work-related Leisure Activities - Indoors

1.1. Smoking and related activities

Accidents involving the use of smoking materials by adults

most often occurred while the victim was in a seated or prone

position. However, the activities other than smoking in which

they were involved varied from case to case.

Certain patterns were noted in the 59 cases studied to

date. The majority (42 out of 59) of the accidents occurred

under one or more of the following circumstances

® The victim was unusually tired or sleepy

The victim was in bed or ready for bed

® The victim was drunk or sedated

** The victim was senile, physically handicapped or

mentally inadequate

° The garment involved had a napped or pile surface.

Flammable liquids did not seem to play a major part in

accidents involving smoking; however, a category of such cases

included lighting a match when clothing had flammable liquid

on it, and lighting a cigarette near a volatile liquid thus

causing an explosion or flashback.

1.2. Activities near a space heater or open fireplace

Space heaters seemed to present more of a hazard to

children than to adults. Two patterns involving open fires

in the home seemed to emerge.

A child, wearing a loosely fitted garment backed up

to the heater to get warm. As the victim attempted

to get close to the heat, the edge of his garment

came in contact with an open flame and ignited.

21
" The victim's loosely fitted garment came in contact

with the flame or heating element while engaged in

some other activity such as dressing, v/orking at the

sink/ or playing near the heater. In most instances

the room or work space containing the heater was

small or cramped and the victim was busy or preoccupied.

Accidents from both of the above categories have two

common elements.

Lack of an adequate guard on fireplace or heater

° Victim wearing a loosely fitted, often long garment

Flammable liquids were not a problem with indoor fires

such as the above.

1.3. Playing indoors with smoking materials (children)

The exact accident sequence is unknown since no adult was

present. However the pattern appeared to be as follows:

(1) The child obtained matches or lighter. In most cases

these materials were easily accessible, but in a fev; instances

the child went to some effort to obtain them.

(2) The child either began to play with them immediately

or he took them elsewhere to play with them, where discovery

was less likely.

(3) The child dropped the match or lighter after lighting

it, thereby igniting his clothing.

Other observations on this accident type were:

More children were injured playing v/ith matches than

with lighters.

** More children were injured while playing alone than

while playing with other children.

In a number of cases, the children had played with fire

before, some having been burned in the process.

Though occurring at all income levels, this type of

accident seemed to be more prevalent in large families

at low income levels.

** The accident often occurred in the morning, either

before the parents were awake or while the parents

were busy elsewhere.

22
Flammable liquids were seldom a factor in accidents

involving children playing with smoking materials indoors.

1,4. Other indoor non-work activities

® No real patterns yet identified.

2. Non-work-related or Leisure Activities .- Outdoors

2.1. Camping or activities involving an open fire

Accidents involving an open fire most often occurred

while the victim was warming himself by a campfire. The

victim stood too close and the clothing ignited either from a

spark or by the wind blowing the flames.

Flammable liquids were involved in about half of these

accidents. Typical situations were:

Flammable liquid on clothing ignited when the victim

stood too close to the flame

" Flammable liquid was thrown on an existing fire

causing a flashback

** Children or adolescents were playing with a flammable

liquid near a fire and vapors or liquid ignited.

2.2. Lighting or tending a charcoal grill

All accidents studied thus far involving a charcoal grill

were strikingly . similar . The victim put charcoal in the grill

and added lighter fluid or the equivalent to the coals. The

coals V7ere then lighted. Sometime later the victim decided

the fire wasn't progressing fast enough and added more fuel,

often gasoline which is more volatile than most lighter fuel.

The flammable liquid and/or vapors ignited with one or more

of the following consequences:

" Victim spilled flaming liquid on himself as he

jumped or prepared to fling the container away.

** The can or container holding the flammable liquid

exploded, spewing its contents on the victim.

** Exposed portions of the victim's body were burned by

the flashback or explosion.

23
2.3. Playing with matches, firev/orks,

explosives or f,laminable liquids - outdoors (children)

The accident sequences of children playing with matches

outdoors were similar to those of children playing with matches

indoors, except that more intermediary materials (leaves,

sponges, paper, etc.) appeared to be involved outdoors than

indoors. There v;ere a few cases in which the child had flammable liquids (such as grease, oil or gasoline) on his clothing

when he played with r.atches, thus increasing the flammability

of the fabric.

There were a number of cases in which the child was

actually playing with a flammable liquid at the time of the

accident. The most common type of accident involved the child

pouring the flammable liquid on the ground or in a cup and

igniting it. The burn occurred as a result of the explosion

or backflash which ignited the clothing, or clothing ignition

as the child tried to extinguish the fire.

Another accident sequence involved a child pouring gasoline on leaves or on other objects, lighting them, and igniting

his clothing in the process.

The accessibility of flammable liquids to children was

the outstanding factor in these accidents. In most cases,

the child either found the flammable liquid by accident or got

it from the garage where it was comnionly stored.

Fireworks also presented a hazard, with sparklers being

the major offenders. Clothing ignition occurred either while

the sparkler was being lighted or when a spark or piece of

the sparkler broke off and lodged in his clothing.

Explosives were involved in only two of the incidents

studied thus far.

3. Work-related Activities - Indoors

3.1. Activities involving ranges

Activities of victims involved in range accidents may be

classified into four broad categories:

** Those in which the victim was actually preparing food

° Those in which the victim v;as waiting to eat or was

talking with or watching another person prepare food

** Those in which the victim was warming himself by the

range

24
** Those in which the victim, a child, was climbing on or

playing near the range.

A number of body actions or movements, such as leaning

over, standing near, leaning against, or reaching over, may

be associated with range-related activities. A common

action which led to ignition was leaning back against the

range while the front burner was turned on or still very hot.

The victim was generally:

® Preoccupied with something else such as talking on the

phone, watching TV, or reading the paper

° Waiting for something to heat

° Wearing something loosely fitted at the waist or upper

hip

** Standing near a partially covered burner or one with the

flame turned up too high

Range-related accidents involving explosions or flashback most often occurred when the victim attempted to light an

oven in which there was an accumulation of gas. The trapped

gas ignited explosively burning exposed areas of skin and at

times igniting the victim's clothing. The gas accumulation

was generally due to a faulty pilot light, failure to turn

off burners completely, or a time lag between turning on gas

and striking a match. [A similar but less serious accident

occurred on top burners when gas had accumulated before

ignition]

.

There were also several cases in which grease left unattended on the range ignited. Generally the injury occurred

when the victim attempted to carry the burning grease from

the kitchen, dropping or spilling it on himself in the process.

3.2. Maintaining the home

The few accidents related to home maintenance or repair

in which there were no flammable liquids involved were electrical in nature, most involving an electrical short circuit.

Most accidents connected with home maintenance involving

flammable or volatile liquids fell into one of three

categories

:

3.2.1. Cleaning paint brushes

The victim was using gasoline or -paint thinner to clean

paint brushes. Fumes accumulated in the room and were ignited

by a hot water heater or other ignition source. An explosion

25
or flashback occurred which caused burns to exposed area and/or

ignited flammable liquid on clothing.

3.2.2. Tending the furnace

The majority of these accidents occurred when the victim

was trying to re-light or check on a furnace that had gone out.

Generally, accumulated gas ignited causing an explosion or

flashback which burned exposed skin and/or ir^nited the victim's

clothing

.

3.2.3. Using volatile or flammable glue

with inadequate ventilation

After spreading the glue or contact cement over most of

the surface to be covered, the fumes were ignited by a hot

water heater, range, or other ignition source, causing a small

explosion and fire.

3.3. Repairing or cleaning automotive

or mechnical equipment

This accident type was characterized by the use of flammable liquids, usually gasoline to clean automobile or motorcycle parts, or other small pieces of equipment, in a poorly

ventilated room. While the ignition source varied from a cigarette to a water heater, the sequence was much the same

in all cases. Flammable liquid was brought inside the house

to be used, and ignition occurred in one of the following

two ways :

•

'. ° Gas was spilled and ignited from a pilot light or

heater

° Vapors from gas accumulated and were ignited causing

a flashback or explosion.

4. Work-related Activities - Outdoors

4.1: Working in yard or on grounds

A relatively large number of accidents occurred while the

victim was working in the yard or on the grounds surrounding

the home. iMost of these accidents involved open trash or

brush fires.

In those accidents which did not directly involve flammable liquids, there were two prevalent sets of circumstances.

26
In the first instance, a trash or brush fire was disturbed

or fanned either by the victim stirring or kicking it or the

wind blowing it. Sparks or burning trash from the fire then

landed on the victim's clothing (usually pants leg) causing

ignition. Brush fires differed from trash fires only in that

they were usually larger and more likely to get out of hand.

In two of the four brush fire cases classified to date, ignition occurred as the victim was trying to extinguish a fire

that had gotten out of control. In the other two cases, ignition was believed to have been caused by sparks given off as

the victim added fuel to the fire.

The second category of yard fires involved an explosion

or flashback which led to a burn and/or clothing ignition.

In several instances a minor explosion was caused by something,

such as an aerosel can, which exploded when placed with trash

in an incinerator. In other instances the trash was believed

to have been contaminated with a flammable liquid causing a

flash of flame when the trash was ignited.

Flammable liquids also played an important part in yard

and grounds maintenance activities. The most common accident

sequence involved the use of flammable liquids in trash or

brush fires. In many respects the accident pattern was similar

to that of the charcoal grill accident. After the fire had

been . started the victim decided that it wasn't burning fast

enough and added flammable liquid (usually gasoline) to it.

The liquid or its vapors ignited cpusing a minor explosion or

flashback. The victim was burned by the flashback and/or by

flaming liquid spilled or spattered on him.

Another accident pattern relating to yard fires was also

identified. In the process of carrying or using the flammable

liquid for starting a fire, some of it spilled on the victim's

clothing. The contaminated area ignited as the victim was

tending the fire.

Other types of yard accidents involving adults were reported,, but not in sufficent number to be categorized separately.

The trash or incinerator fire was also found to be a hazard to children playing in the area of an unattended fire.

In four of the seven cases of this type classified to date

the children were apparently playing with the fire when ignition occurred. In the other three cases the children may have

been playing with the fire or may have come in contact with it

accidentally while playing near it. Often the exact circumstances were not known since no adult was present.

27
Four cases have been classified in which children were

playing with or near an existing fire and flammable liquids

were involved. In three instances the child added a readily

accessible flammable liquid (usually gasoline) to an existing

fire

.

4.2. Maintaining or repairing engines or automobiles

This final work-related non-occupational activity, often

occurred away from home. It generally involved men of varying

degrees of expertise in automotive repairs. The most common

accident (9 cases) occurred as the victim was trying to prime

a carburetor with gasoline. Either the carburetor backfired

thereby igniting the gasoline or the gas spilled on the hot

manifold and ignited. The victim was burned by means of one

or more of the following:

® As the direct result of flashback

° As burning gasoline splashed or spilled on him

" By the ignition of gasoline or oil previously spilled

on clothing.

5. Job Related Activities

Classification of fire accidents occurring while the

victim was at work was difficult because of the wide variety

of occupations. Tentative occupational classifications

decided upon v;ere : agricultural, automotive (maintenance

and repair), industrial and other.

5.1. Agricultural occupations

Three of the six cases classified in this category involved a malfunction of, or fire on, farm equipment in use.

The other three cases directly involved the use of flammable

liquids.

5.2. Automotive occupations

All accidents in this category occurred while the victim

was at work in a gas station or garage. All cases to this

point also involved flammable liquids. A number of the accidents occurred when an accumulation of gasoline fumes came in

contact with an ignition source and ignited explosively. The

activities the victims were engaged in when the explosion

occurred ranged from using flammable liquid as a cleaning agent

to merely carrying the liquid in an open pail. Another typical

accident involved ignition of a gasoline contaminated garment

as it came near an ignition source.

28
5.3. Industrial occupations

A wide variety of accident types fell into the industrial

occupation category. These accidents often involved torches

or welding rods of some sort, sometimes in combination with a flammable or volatile liquid. Malfunctioning equipment caused

several accidents and in a few cases the victim was burned

by an explosion or flash of flame that he did not cause.

I

29

REFERENCES

1. Artz, C. and Yarbrough, D. R. Ill, "Present Status of

the Treatment of Burns", Bulletin of the New York Academy

of Medicine ; Vol. 43, No. 8 (August, 1967).

2. Barancik, J. D. and Shapiro, M. A., Pittsburgh Burn Study , University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. (May 1972)

.

3. Crikelair, G., "The Severity of Burns from Clothing Fires",

American Dyestuff Reporter (June 10, 1972).

4. Halter, J. and Friedman, S., "Etiology and Management

of Severely Burned Children," American Journal of Diseases

of Children , (Nov. 1969).

5. Larson, D. L. , "Early Care of the Acutely Burned Child",

Nebraska Medical Journal', Vol. 54 (Oct. 1969 & Nov. 1969).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Feller, I., M.D., "Survival of a Severely Burned Child",

Surgical Clinics of North America , Vol. 39 (April, 1959).

2. Jensen, G. D., "Preventive Implications of a Study of

100 Children Treated for Serious Burns", Pediatrics , Vol. 24

(October, 1959)

.

3. Larsen, D. L.,M.D, Abston, S.,M.D., and Goldman, A.,M.D.,

"The Burn Wound", Flame Free Design Conference, Houston,

Texas (1972)

.

4. Larsen, D. L. , M.D. and Bolieu, S., "Design is a Burn

Problem", Flame Free Design Conference, Houston, Texas

(1972) .

5. Llewellyn, L., "The Psychic Cost of Severe Burns", (Memo

to J. E. Clark, National Bureau of Standards) June 1972.

6. Matter, P., "Textile Burns and Their Treatment", CIBA

Review , Vol. 4 (1969) .

7. S?ater, J., Buchbinder, B. , and Tovey, H. , "Matches and

Lighters in Flammable Fabric Incidents: The Magnitude of the

Problem", Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Tech. Note 750, 27 pages

(Dec. 1972).

8. Tovey, H. and Giroux, R. , "Ignition Sources in Accident

Cases Involving Flammable Fabrics" ,' Nat . Bur. Stand. (U.S.),

Report 10629 (November 11, 1972).

30

1

U.S. 01 PI . Ol C CMM. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DAT A SHHn

15. SUPPLHMEXTARY .NOTES

v.' iM;i<i.ic A l !0.\ (;K Ki.rCMn NO.

NBSIR 73-1^5

2, Ci jv't At cfssicii No.

3. iUf 1 pi I .'ii ' s Attosioii ."«'o.

5. Pulilic.itP'.i D.itc

6. I'lrrtorraing O. ganization Ct ji.

8. Frrforinin^-, Organ i ti NISS XR 7

10. I'rojL-ct,' 1 jbk/ v,ofk L';ut N.). ^90-3574

VI. Conctnct/Cr.^nt .No.

13. Type of Report &: Period

Covered

Inter in

14. Sponsorir. q Agency Code j

!

4. '1

1 IT.i; ANP >LH II 1 1 i; STUDY OF RELATIONSHIPS BETV.T.En ACTIVITY, REACTION', GARMEiri

PAR.\METER FATTER^iS, AND INJURY SEVERITY FOR FIRE INCIDENTS

INVOLVING ArP/VilEL AN INTEREI REPORT

7. AUTHOIUS)

Laura Bal:e r Buchbindcr

9. PERI OKMING ORGANIZATION NAMl" AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL RURFAi; Ol" STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Vl'ASHINGTON, D.C. :0234

12. Sponsoring Organization .Name and .Address The Cotton Foundation

1918 North Parkway

Memphis, Tennessee 38112

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-v.ord or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)

Fire accidents result from the interaction of a number of environmental, human,

and physical factors, all of which may effect the severity of the burn injury.

Using information gathered from case histories in the Flammable Fabrics Accident

Case and Testing System, this study seeks to identify patterns in the apparel

fire accident variables: (1) activity preceding the accident, (2) parameters cf

fabrics and garments involved, (3) reaction of victim, and (4) severity of th2

burn injury. It v;ill also attempt to define the extent and nature of the relationships betv;een these accident variables.

This interim report gives a detailed description of the methodology em.ployed

in the development and com.pletion of the study, with em.phasis on accident pattern

identification and classification for apparel fire incidents. Preliminary results

of the study are included which identify certain recurring patterns of activity

leading to burn injuries.

j '7. KEY uoRDS (Alphabetical order, separated by semicolons) Accident patterns; apparel; apparel fires;

"burn injury; FFACTS; fire; flammable fabrics; garment fires; garment parai:;eters ; inj^^v

f!Severity; victim's activity; victim's reactions.

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