title: Prevention of burn injuries to children involving nightwear.
abstract: The effectiveness of legislative intervention in the New Zealand market for children's nightclothes as an injury prevention strategy has been reassessed by examining those hospital admissions for the period 1980-8 (with emphasis on the 1985-8 period) in which clothing and/or nightclothes were involved. The profiles of the production of children's nightclothes (1977-86) and domestic heating (1984-8) were also examined. Ninety-five cases of burn injury discharges were identified (1985-8), and of those cases involving clothing 42% involved nightwear (49% 1981-4). Some of the 27% unspecified cases may have also involved nightwear (23%, 1981-4). A very strong linear downward trend for nightwear incidents was noted (chi 2 slope = 31.06, p less than 0.001). Forty-eight percent of cases involved children aged 1-6 years, and 68% involved pajamas. Stoves were the main specified ignition agent for nightclothes (36%). Open fires as a form of household heating decreased from 49% to 34% of households (1984-8). Estimated production of nightdresses in New Zealand also decreased (460,000 to 80,000 units, 1973-86). The pronounced decrease in injuries attributable to ignition of children's nightclothes is likely to be the result of mandatory controls on children's nightclothes, increased use of pyjamas, and a steady decrease in use of open fires and portable electric heaters. The typical injury event portrayed to the public of a girl in front of a heater or open fire needs to be corrected.
authors.affiliation: Clothing and Textiles Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Laing
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bryant
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003020:Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006361:Heating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors