West Virginia Fire Safety Resource
e-Guide
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Risk Factors > WV at Risk > Causes > Cooking > Smoking > Electrical > Heating > Arson
Smoking and fire safety
Think about this: Every time someone smokes a cigarette, a pipe or a cigar, it begins with starting a fire.
Smoking and people with disabilities
In a study conducted by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) in 2003, the smoking rate among people with disabilities was 31% compared with 20% among people without disabilities.
Add to this, people with a functional disability, such as loss of or decrease in mobility, cognition, hearing and vision, are at even higher risk of being the victim of a fire caused by smoking. Fires start quickly and move fast. People with disabilities are not always able to extinguish a fire before it spreads or to safely get out of the house when there is a fire.
Fire prevention saves lives.
How can we prevent fires caused by smoking?
The only one sure way to prevent fires caused by smoking is to not smoke. If you smoke, smoke responsibly.
Smoke responsibly
- Never leave a lighted cigarette or other lighted smoking materials unattended
- Never smoke in bed
- Always check around furniture, cushions, etc. for smoking materials before leaving the house or going to bed.
Teach and protect your children
Children are most often the victims of fires they set from curiosity because adults in the home have failed to protect them.
- Keep all lighters and matches away from children
- Teach children to never touch matches or lighters, and immediately tell an adult if they find them.
Learn more
To learn more about smoking and fire prevention, visit the Fire Safety: Smoking and Fires segment of the Fire Safety course on this Web site.
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