Lethal Effects of Mattress Fires - Essay Example

? (Assignment) Consumer Problems Introduction Mattress is a pad or mat that is made of a strong cloth cover filled with firm material which makes the bed more comfortable to lie on. Although mattresses are more comfortable to lie on, it may lead to deadly fires if they are ignited. It is found that cigarette smoking in bed is the main cause that leads to fatal mattress fires. Majority reported cases reveal that persons who allowed smoking materials to come into contact with mattress were under the influence of alcohol. The mattress fires generally do not produce flame or glow other than smoke and heat. It is identified that carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and extreme heat produced during the disaster amplify the dreadfulness of mattress fires. This paper will explore the lethal effects of mattress fires and will also recommend solutions to the issue. Potential issues of mattress fires As per the report released by CPSC representatives, mattress fire causes 700-1000 deaths annually (Mattress and bedding fires). This huge mattress fires related death rates point out the severity of the issue. According to Mullan (2004), national fire loss estimates assert that mattresses and bedding were the major cause to ignite in 19, 400 residential fire cases attended by fire service during 1995-1999. Although many regulations have been initiated to address the issue, none of them could effectively avoid the mattress fires. The regulations could persuade industries to manufacture fire resistant mattresses. However, even the restructured mattresses are not capable of preventing the spread of fire. The issue has turned to be one of the major social concerns in the United States as technology did not develop an effective method to eliminate this problem. Although cigarette smoking in bed is the main cause of mattress fires, type of suits the individuals wearing, the furniture used, and the room setting also add to the rapid spread of the mattress fires. It is important to note that mattress fires spread very quickly in an uncontrollable manner and hence it increases the chances of fatalities and huge economic loss. According to United States Deputy Fire Administrator Chief Charlie Dickinson (as cited in Morales, 2004), mattress fire doubles itself every minute. From the reported mattress fire cases, it is observed that users of mattresses, their family members, and neighbors in nearby apartment units are at risk of mattress fire. It is assumable that the mattress fire victims would probably be asleep and it adds to the severity of the issue. Similarly, kids and aged persons are easily affected by mattress fires since they lack sufficient physical fitness to leave the disaster spot instantly. Carbon monoxide is the deadly gas released during mattress fire disasters and it would kill individuals before the flames do. Many consumers are of the belief that previous government regulations have completely eliminated mattress fires; however, these regulations could only reduce the risks associated with mattress disasters. Solutions Obviously, it is difficult to stop the mattress fires completely; therefore, it would be better to explore some remedies that would mitigate the dreadfulness of this issue. Firstly, people must get aware of the dreadfulness of mattress fire and the available disaster response techniques. The adult persons must be careful about removing their children and aged parents from bed at the time of disaster. In addition, one must close the doors to stop fire and call the fire service department. It is advisable for the fire service department to provide awareness programs to the public. Likewise, it is not practical to inhibit people from smoking in bed; hence, it is better to place a protective material layer in between sheets and mattress. In the opinion of Hammack (as cited in Sumi and Williams-Leir, 1969), woolen blankets, cotton cloth treated with a commercial launderable fire retardant, and certain types of plastic sheeting are the effective defensive measures to prevent mattress fires. People must also give emphasis on bed room arrangements since a notable portion of the reported mattress disasters occurred due to faulty bed room setting. It is strongly recommended that candles must be completely removed from bed rooms as it largely increases the chances of such disasters. Dickinson (as cited in Morales, 2004), US Deputy Administrator Chief says that it is essential to pay special attention to what is in the bedroom especially, candles, blankets, and other heating appliances. It is identified that storing old mattresses would increase the chances of fire hazard especially if they are stored near the materials like gasoline, oily rags, and other flammable substances. Similarly, kids playing with lighters, matches, and candles contribute to a major portion of mattress related fire disasters. It is not recommendable to use window curtains rather than glass panes as this practice may impede the spread of fire. Finally, it is possible to prevent mattress fire related fatalities to a large extent by installing a working smoke alarm (US Fire Administration). This device carries out its duties silently and gives early signals to people regarding mattress fires. The early warning aids people to close the doors on time in order to stop the spread of fire. Impacts of incentives Mattress fires cause huge economic losses to the victims as well as to the whole nation. In the opinion of Alpert (2007), since it is difficult to stop the spread of the mattress fires, even a small mattress disaster would cause considerable financial losses. In addition, it is obvious that fire service departments incur huge amounts annually on the ground of increased number of mattress fire cases. Therefore, proper financial incentives programs would benefit the nations to trim down the huge expenses associated with mattress fire and its consequences. For instance, the government may provide smoke alarms to citizens on a subsidy basis as it is the best way to minimize the intensity of the fire danger. Although, this project may require huge initial investments, it would assist individuals and fire service departments to take advantages of decreased level of disaster relief costs. Similarly, it is precise that mattress disaster awareness programs would also demand higher government spending. However, this program would enlighten the public regarding the necessity of individual safety measures and other external disaster prevention technique. Evidently, such awareness programs can considerably reduce the mattress fire related fatalities. Effects of the proposed solutions As suggested earlier, protective material layer in between sheets and mattress would prevent mattress fire issues to some extent. In order to practice this method, it is necessary to use some special materials which must possess better quality. Sometimes manufacturers may produce cheap quality materials in order to minimize cost of production and this practice would adversely affect the ultimate objectives of these materials. It is also seen that since manufacturers charge high for the scientifically prepared material layers, the material layers become unaffordable to customers. The decreased usage of candles as a part of minimizing mattress fire risks would probably cause increased level of electricity consumption. This situation may lead the nation to energy crises and will seriously impinge on the economic interests. Similarly, mattress fire awareness program may also create some unintended consequences. It is often identified that disaster awareness programs make people over confident that they are not willing to contact fire service department even in times of severe mattress fires. Potential solutions Although some of the proposed solutions produce some unintended consequences, majority of the discussed recommendations offers fruitful benefits to mattress disaster prevention. The mattress fire awareness program is cost effective and can play a vital role in bringing down the fatality rate of mattress disasters. It is a common fact that lack of knowledge regarding disaster prevention is the main factor that amplifies the intensity of the disaster. Therefore, such programs would greatly benefit the whole society. Likewise, smoke alarm is a modern technique that can very effectively assist people to mitigate the consequences of mattress fire. The most attractive feature of this method is that it is a scientific and simple device that works flawlessly. This method gives alarm signals in times of fire dangers and is beneficial even to children for identifying mattress fire. Conclusion Evidently, mattress fires cause severe damage to the overall sustainability of the nation. Cigarette smoking in bed is the most potential reason for mattress fires. Governmental regulations to resolve this issue have not yet achieved the objectives in their real sense. However it is possible to mitigate the impacts of this disaster to a large extent if people are aware of the causes of mattress fire. To be more specific, awareness program packages and application of smoke alarms are the most recommendable measures to this issue. Works Cited Alpert, Hillel R. “Regulating cigarettes for fire safety.” Tobacco Control Legal Consortium. (May 2007). Web. 03 May 2011. “Mattress and bedding fires,” People for Clean Beds.org. n. d. Web. 03 May 2011. Mullan, John Gibson. “Briefing package: Notice of proposed rulemaking for the flammability (open flame) of mattresses and foundations and options for addressing bedclothes involvement in mattress/ bedding fires.” Consumer Product Safety Commission. USA. (November 2004). Web. 03 May 2011. Morales, Tatiana. “Mattresses: deadly fire hazards.” CBS News. June 2004. Web. 03 May 2011. “Mattress and bedding fires in residential structures.” US Fire Administration: Topical Fire Research Series. 2. 17. (February 2002). Web. 03 May 2011. Sumi, K & Williams-Leir, G. “Lethal effects of mattress fires.” National Research Council of Canada. (May 1969). Read More