Citation

Schwebel DC, Swart D. J. Inj. Violence Res. 2009; 1(1): 3-5.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. schwebel@uab.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences)

DOI

10.5249/jivr.v1i1.1

PMID

21483184

PMCID

PMC3134901

Abstract

Paraffin (called kerosene in North America and other parts of the world) is the most commonly used fuel in ‎non-electrified dwellings worldwide. It is especially popular in Africa and South Asia. Although paraffin ‎offers many advantages-especially its comparatively low cost to produce-it poses two major risks of ‎injury. First, paraffin poisoning is common, either through ingestion or through inhalation of smoke and ‎fumes. Second, paraffin is highly flammable, and poses fire risk through multiple causes. This commentary ‎discusses strategies to prevent paraffin-related injury. Prevention of paraffin-related injury must be through ‎multiple strategies, and should include policy-oriented change, changes to the safety of home environments, ‎and behavioral changes targeting how individuals store and use paraffin and paraffin appliances. We review ‎successful prevention strategies in each of these domains and discuss appropriate research and community ‎initiatives that should be implemented to improve paraffin safety among at-risk populations.

Available (open access):
http://jivresearch.org/jivr/index.php/jivr/article/view/1/3‎

Language: en