Fire Fatality and Alcohol Intake: Analysis of Key Risk Factors

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Bruck, Dorothy, Ball, Michelle and Thomas, Ian (2011) Fire Fatality and Alcohol Intake: Analysis of Key Risk Factors. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 72 (5). pp. 731-736. ISSN 1937-1888

Abstract

Objective: After a brief review of the literature on the role of alcohol in residential fire deaths, a comparison of different risk factors for residential fire fatality was undertaken by closely analyzing the circumstances of fire victims as a function of alcohol intake. Method: Analyses were based on Australian coroners' fire fatality records for the state of Victoria (1998–2006) and considered demographic, behavioral, and environmental factors for the 95 adult fire victims who were tested for alcohol (64 male, 31 female). Results: Most (58%) had a positive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test, with 31% of the total sample having a BAC of more than 0.20 gm per 100 ml. Odds ratio analyses showed that four variables were significantly more associated with victims who had consumed alcohol compared with sober victims. In descending odds ratio order, these variables were as follows: (a) being aged 18–60 years, (b) involving smoking materials (e.g. cigarettes, pipes), (c) having no conditions preventing escape, and (d) being male. An important new finding is that fire fatalities with positive BAC levels were more than three times less likely to have their clothing alight or exits blocked than sober fire victims. Conclusions: The risk of dying in a fire for alcohol-affected people who are capable of being alerted and escaping may be reduced if they can be alerted more quickly and effectively. Suitable measures for improving smoke alarms via interlinking and the use of an alarm signal demonstrated to be more effective at waking sleepers, including those who are alcohol affected, are discussed.

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Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/9118
DOI 10.15288/jsad.2011.72.731
Official URL https://www.jsad.com/doi/10.15288/jsad.2011.72.731
Subjects Historical > Faculty/School/Research Centre/Department > School of Social Sciences and Psychology
Historical > FOR Classification > 1701 Psychology
Historical > SEO Classification > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health)
Keywords ResPubID23565, fire fatality, alcohol consumption, risk factors, alcohol affected, comparative study
Citations in Scopus 21 - View on Scopus
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