Fire and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under. Children, especially those age 5 and under, are at greatest risk from home fire death and injury. A less acute perception of danger, less control of their environment, and a limited ability to react promptly and properly to a fire also contribute to this excess risk. Younger children have faster metabolic rates and are less able to physically handle toxic combustion products, thereby placing them at greater risk of suffering injury of dying due to asphyxiation caused by fire. Furthermore, because children have thinner skin, the burns they sustain from the fire flames are more severe than those of adults.
Smoke detectors are extremely effective at preventing fire-related death and injury.
The chances of dying in a residential fire are cut in half when a smoke detector is present. Residential sprinkler systems, escape plans and fire extinguishers are also effective at preventing and mitigating this risk. In 1995, more than 800 children ages 14 and under died in residential fires. Each year, nearly 47,000 children ages 14 and under are injured in residential fires. Each year, children playing with fire cause more than 20,000 residential fires.