Citation

Rowland D, Afolabi E, Roberts I. J. Public Health Med. 2002; 24(3): 217-218.

Affiliation

Public Health Intervention Research Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 49-51 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Oxford University Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12831093

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite an increased risk of fire in disadvantaged households, smoke alarm ownership is considerably lower than in the general population. The government currently recommends that local authorities install battery-operated smoke alarms in all public sector properties regardless of tenure. However, the extent to which local authorities comply is currently not known. We conducted a survey of local authorities to establish the extent of their smoke alarm provision to public sector households. METHODS: A telephone survey of all 405 local authorities within England and Wales was carried out. RESULTS: We obtained responses from 390 (97 per cent) local authorities, 266 of which had responsibility for housing. Over half of all public-sector households are offered smoke alarms by the local authorities. The majority of local authorities offer ionization and/or optical sensor alarm types (78 per cent), with many local authorities providing battery-operated alarms alone (17 per cent) or in combination with hardwired alarms (31 per cent). CONCLUSIONS: Many local authorities offer smoke alarm provision to their public-sector households. Whether this represents an effective and cost-effective use of resources requires further investigation.