RESUMO
Residential fires remain a challenge in many parts of the United States. This project assessed the sustainability of a community-based fire prevention intervention on household fire safety knowledge and practices. The design was a prospective, cohort study including preintervention and postintervention surveys, which assessed participants' fire safety knowledge and behavior. The implementation of an in-home visit to educate parents of third- and fourth-grade students on escape planning coupled with the installation of smoke alarms can be successful in increasing basic fire safety knowledge and household fire safety practices.
Assuntos
Acidentes Domésticos/prevenção & controle , Proteção da Criança , Incêndios/prevenção & controle , Visita Domiciliar , Pais/educação , Gestão da Segurança/organização & administração , Acidentes Domésticos/estatística & dados numéricos , Atitude Frente a Saúde , Criança , Proteção da Criança/estatística & dados numéricos , Estudos de Viabilidade , Incêndios/estatística & dados numéricos , Educação em Saúde/organização & administração , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Humanos , Pais/psicologia , Philadelphia , Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de Saúde , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Estados UnidosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of child safety seat checkpoints in generating change in child restraint practice to reduce the prevalence and extent of misuse. METHODS: Child safety seats underwent an initial checkpoint evaluation and participants received a training session. Participants were asked to return within 6-12 months to a checkpoint for follow-up evaluation. During each visit, a data collection sheet was used to assess the participants' use of their child safety seat, and to subsequently calculate a restraint misuse score to characterize the child safety seat's usage before and after the intervention. RESULTS: During the period of study, 42 participants underwent both the initial and follow-up child safety seat check. Before the intervention, at least one misuse was identified in 100% of installed child safety seats. After the intervention, there was a significant reduction in the proportion of rear-facing child safety seats (18.8%) and forward-facing child safety seats (64.0%) that had at least one misuse (p<0.001). Almost all (93.4%) of those using rear-facing child safety seats and the majority (64.0%) of those using forward-facing child safety seats improved their safety score as measured after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Although misuse was universally observed, child safety seat checkpoint events were successful in improving usage practices.
