New review looks at risks and ways to reduce residential fires in vulnerable communities
BCIRPU researchers have published a new review identifying risk factors and effective fire prevention strategies among vulnerable populations. The rapid review found key risk factors for residential fires were: vulnerable populations, behavioural issues such as smoking and alcohol use, and lack of fire safety technologies such as fire alarms.
Effective interventions such as the presence of smoke alarms and sprinklers, and community-based fire safety programs can lead to significantly fewer fire-related injuries and deaths.
The study also identified a gap in the literature—specifically, that there is a gap in evidence specific to Indigenous communities. The study team noted that the available evidence could potentially be applicable to Indigenous populations.
This report was funded by Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), in order to strengthen Community Fire Risk Safety in Canada, in partnership with Statistics Canada and the BCIRPU. The project team at the BCIRPU extend their appreciation to DRDC and the team at Statistics Canada who provided additional context and insight and supported this project: Yann Pelcat, Alexandra Bozheva, Kimberley Boyuk, Len Garis, and Lindsay Frei.
Read the report in English (PDF)
Une nouvelle étude examine les risques et les moyens de réduire les incendies résidentiels dans les communautés vulnérables
Les chercheurs de la British Columbia Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU) ont publié une nouvelle étude identifiant les facteurs de risque et les stratégies efficaces de prévention des incendies au sein des populations vulnérables. Cette brève étude a révélé que les principaux facteurs de risque des incendies résidentiels étaient les suivants : les populations vulnérables, les enjeux comportementaux tels que le tabagisme et la consommation d’alcool, et le manque de technologies de sécurité incendie telles que les alarmes incendie.
Des interventions efficaces, comme l’installation de détecteurs de fumée et de gicleurs, et l’adoption de programmes communautaires de sécurité incendie peuvent réduire considérablement les blessures et décès attribuables à un incendie.
L’étude a également mis en évidence une lacune dans la littérature, à savoir l’absence de données probantes propres aux communautés autochtones. L’équipe chargée de l’étude a noté que les données probantes disponibles pourraient s’appliquer aux populations autochtones.
Ce rapport a été financé par Recherche et développement pour la défense Canada (RDDC) en vue de renforcer la sécurité incendie dans les collectivités au Canada, en partenariat avec Statistique Canada et la BCIRPU. L’équipe de projet de la BCIRPU exprime sa reconnaissance à RDDC et à l’équipe de Statistique Canada, qui lui ont fourni un contexte et des renseignements supplémentaires et qui ont appuyé ce projet : Yann Pelcat, Alexandra Bozheva, Kimberley Boyuk, Len Garis et Lindsay Frei.
- distress when a child was in pain and when a family was grieving; and
- sadness in the event they were not able to save a child in their care.
- concern for the injured child and the child’s family;
Particularly traumatic events, such as those involving vivid sights and sounds (e.g., families holding each other and having extreme reactions), stuck with the practitioners, having long-lasting impressions on them and causing them to re-live these events in the years following their exposure.
Even after their shift was over, practitioners said that they changed how they approached parenting and how they perceived safety during play as a result of witnessing these traumatic events. They reported having more knowledge of the causes and consequences of severe injuries, such as those that require hospitalization or emergency care. For example, practitioners were more likely to enforce boundaries around where their children could play, such as by forbidding their child to play near busy streets. They also were more likely to tell their child about safe play environments and equipment, and put this equipment on their child before play, such as explaining the benefits of using helmets while riding bikes.
Practitioners were more likely to enforce boundaries around where their children could play, and use safety equipment, such as bike helmets.
Practitioners also described being concerned about their children’s play near open windows, around large bodies of water unsupervised, and in environments where firearms were present. They also expressed worry about their children’s play on trampolines and on motorized vehicles, such as ATVs. Findings related to trampoline play safety concerns were published in the journal Injury Prevention.
Observing family grief due to child injury or death affected the mental well-being of health care practitioners, drawing attention to the need for mental health supports for those involved in caring for severely injured and dying patients.
"Raise more resilient children through play...watch and see how your child handles challenging tasks without intervening right away." —Dr. Michelle Bauer
Building resilience through play
How can parents help their children build resilience? By letting them play!
The experiences that practitioners witnessed encouraged them to support their children in building resilience through play; specifically, by supporting children in learning to cope with failure, overcome fear, build self-confidence, develop distress tolerance, and regulate negative emotions. Findings related to building resilience through play were published in the journal Child: Care, Health, and Development.
Parents fostered resilience in their kids by:
- helping their kids get back on bikes after they fell off and wanted to try again;
- sitting on their hands so they did not instinctively reach for their children when their children fell down; and
- encouraging participation in challenging and thrilling activities in forests and water while safety equipment was used.
"There are a few ways that parents can raise more resilient children through play that are supported by literature and our study findings," said Dr. Bauer. "One: watch and see how your child handles challenging tasks without intervening right away."
"Two: Ask your child how they want you to help—let them tell you what makes them feel safe and happy during play. Let them lead. And three: make play both safe and exciting by encouraging risk-taking, teaching them how to avoid hazards, and using safety equipment.”
This research was supported through Drs. Bauer’s and Gilley’s receipt of a clinical and translational research seed grant from the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR), Dr. Bauer’s BCCHR postdoctoral fellowship award, and additional training provided to Dr. Bauer through her participation in the Programs and Institutions Looking to Launch Academic Researchers (PILLAR) program through ENRICH, a national organization training perinatal and child health researchers.
Learn more about the study through two infographic posters:
Graphics and posters by Milica Radosavljevic
