title: Clothing-related burns in New South Wales, Australia: impact of legislation on a continuing problem.
abstract: To combat the risk of nightwear burns a mandatory standard regulating the design, flammability and labelling requirements of children's nightwear was introduced in Australia in 1987. This population-based study examined the trends, characteristics and causes of clothing-related burns to inform a review of the current standard, and to facilitate the development of targeted prevention strategies. Clothing-related burns for 1998-2013 were identified from hospitalisation data for all hospitals in NSW and detailed information regarding circumstance of injury from a burn data registry. To investigate percentage annual change (PAC) in trends negative binomial regression analysis was performed. There were 541 hospitalisations for clothing-related burns, 18% were nightwear-related and 82% were for other clothing. All clothing burns decreased by an estimated 4% per year (95% CI -6.2 to -2.1). Nightwear-related burns decreased by a significantly higher rate (PAC -7.4%; 95% CI -12.5 to -2.1) than other clothing (PAC -2.5%; 95%CI -4.7 to -0.1). Exposure to open heat source (campfire/bonfire) was the most common cause, followed by cooking. Of factors known to be associated with clothing burns, accelerant use was reported in 27% of cases, cigarettes 17%, loose skirt or dress 8%, and angle grinders in 6% of cases. Hospitalisations for clothing burns are relatively uncommon in NSW and rates, particularly of nightwear burns, have decreased over the last 15 years. Strategies for continued reduction of these injuries include increasing the scope of the current clothing standard or developing new standards to include all children's clothing and adult nightwear, and increasing community awareness of the risk associated with open heat sources, accelerant use and loose clothing.
authors.affiliation: Falls and Injury Prevention Group, Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: l.harvey@neura.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lara A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: Statewide Burn Injury Service, NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Connolley
authors.affiliation: Burn Unit, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003020:Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D062789:Tobacco Products; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Clothing-burns; Injuries; Legislation; Prevention; Regulations