CPSC is organizing a nationwide campaign to discard hazardous consumer products such as old disposable lighters, frayed extension cords, and recalled products that could lead to a deadly fire. Each year, more than 3,000 people die and 16,000 are injured because of fires that start in homes.
Children are particularly vulnerable.
Each year, about 800 children under the age of 15 die of fire-related causes and about 500 of these deaths are to children under the age of five years. In fact, children under age five have a fire death rate more than twice the national average. CPSC standards and compliance activities have contributed to a decline in fires and fire deaths over the past several years. For example, CPSC's standard for child-resistant lighters has helped reduce fire deaths from children playing with lighters by 43 percent since 1994. Other CPSC standards include general wearing apparel, children's sleepwear, mattresses, and carpets and rugs.