@article{ref1,
title="Preventing deaths and injuries from house fires: a cost benefit analysis of a community-based smoke alarm installation programme (Abstract 8)",
journal="Injury prevention",
year="2017",
author="Yellman, Merissa A. and McCoy, Mary and Stephens-Stidham, Shelli and Caton, Emily and Barnard, Jeffrey and Padgett, Ted and Istre, Gregory",
volume="23",
number="Suppl 1",
pages="A3-A3",
abstract="Statement of purpose This study was to estimate the cost-benefit of Operation Installation (OI), a community-based smoke alarm installation programme in Dallas, Texas. OI targets houses in high-risk urban census tracts. Residents of houses that received OI installation (or programme houses) had 68% fewer medically treated house fire injuries (non-fatal and fatal) compared with residents of non-programme houses over an average of 5.2 years of follow-up during an effectiveness evaluation conducted from 2001 to 2011.   Methods/approach A mathematical model incorporated programme cost and effectiveness data as directly observed in OI. The estimated cost per smoke alarm installed was based on a retrospective analysis of OI expenditures from administrative records, 2006-2011. Injury incidence assumptions for a population that had the OI programme compared with the same population without the OI programme was based on the previous OI effectiveness study, 2001-2011. Unit costs for medical care and lost productivity associated with fire injuries were from a national public database.   Results From a combined payers' perspective limited to direct programme and medical costs, the estimated incremental cost per fire injury averted through the OI installation programme was $1 28 800 (2013 US$). When a conservative estimate of lost productivity among victims was included, the incremental cost per fire injury averted was negative, suggesting long-term cost savings from the programme. The OI programme from 2001 to 2011 resulted in an estimated net savings of $3.8 million, or a $3.21 return on investment for every dollar spent on the programme using a societal cost perspective.   Conclusions Community smoke alarm installation programmes could be cost-beneficial in high-fire-risk neighbourhoods.   Significance/contribution to Injury Prevention Science To our knowledge, this is the only cost-benefit analysis of a 10 year smoke alarm installation program.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1353-8047",
doi="10.1136/injuryprev-2017-042560.8",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2017-042560.8"
}