TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1998//
TI  - Fatal accidents in house fires. the most significant causes, such as smoking and alcohol abuse, multiplied by four the incidence during the last 40 years
JO  - Ugeskrift for Laeger
A1  - Leth, Peter Mygind
A1  - Gregersen, M.
A1  - Sabroe, Svend
SP  - 3403
EP  - 3408
VL  - 160
IS  - 23
N2  - A population-based descriptive investigation of housefire accidents in Denmark was carried out for the two five year periods 1953-58 and 1988-93, based on death certificates, police reports and autopsy reports. The number of deaths due to housefire accidents in Denmark has increased (1953-58: 136 (66 men and 70 women), 1988-93: 363 (212 men and 150 women), mostly due to an increase in tobacco-smoking related fire accidents. In 1988-93 the three common causes of housefire deaths were tobacco-smoking, often in combination with alcohol intoxication or handicap (51%), cooking-accidents (10%) and accidents with candles (9%). The largest risk groups were chronic alcoholics, handicapped and elderly people. In conclusion, warnings should be issued against smoking in bed and use of loose-fitting clothing while cooking on an open fire. Protective aprons and devices for use while smoking, self-extinguishing cigarettes and use of fireproof materials in furniture and clothing may prevent ignition. Smoke-alarms may secure early warning.
LA  - 
SN  - 0041-5782
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -