title: Child fatalities in Scottish house fires 1980-1990: a case of child neglect?
abstract: This paper considers 168 child (< 17 years) fatalities killed in house fires in Scotland. Data were obtained from the records retained by the procurators fiscal, as part of a survey into all Scottish fire fatalities during the period 1980 to 1990. Although these fires were generally perceived as being tragic "accidents," we conclude that they were largely a direct result of the activities of adults in the home. We analyze this in terms of contemporaneous supervision and the child-care environment. The role of alcohol in domestic fires is particularly important. Behavioral patterns of parents and caregivers are seen to be placing children in a very high risk category and fatality rate could be significantly reduced if behavior was modified to reduce the risk. Whether these considerations imply "neglect" is partly a question of definition. It is important to recognize that the fire safety message could usefully be integrated within a more general child care or family welfare scheme. Front line professionals in these fields are ideally placed to convey this message and to make a contribution towards reducing the risk of children being killed or injured in fire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Edinburgh Medical School.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Squires
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Busuttil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D002056:Burns / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005391:Firesetting Behavior / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology