Statistical analysis of deaths and injuries from fires worldwide and in Russia (2008–2012)

Abstract

Injuries and deaths in fires over 2008–2012 have been analyzed in countries where about 1.2 billion people leave and more than 3.3 million fires are recorded annually. The following risks were calculated: risk of fire per 1 thousand people per year (R₁ = 2.99 • 10^–3), risk of injury (R_2j = 2.99 • 10^–2) and death (R_2d = 1.18 • 10^–2) per 100 fires, the individual risk of injury (R_3i= 5.70 • 10^–5) and death (R_3d = 2.08 • 10^–5) during fires per 100 thousand population of array of countries under study. Countryspecific indicators of optimal, acceptable and high risks were defined. Annually in Russia over the analyzed period, about 180 thousand fires occur that kill more than 13 thousand people. At the optimum level R₁ – 1.27 • 10^–3 fires per year in Russia, there are elevated risks R_2j – 7.10 • 10^–2 and R_3j – 9.00 • 10^–5 injured in fires annually, R_2d – 7.31 • 10^–2 and R_3d – 9.27 • 10^–5 killed in fires each year. Social status of the victims (2004–2013) and the circumstances that contributed to loss of life (2009–2013) in fires in Russia were studied. Workers, employees and entrepreneurs in the social structure of the victims comprised 15.4 %, retired – 29.7 %, persons with disabilities – 6 %, children – 4.2 %, the unemployed and the homeless – 36.2 %, other – 8.5 %. 52.3 % of deaths in fires occurred due to drunkenness, 1.7 % – due to leaving young children unattended, 2.1 % - due to disease, 4 % – due to disability hindering self-rescue, 19.7 % – due to sleeping, 1.9 % – due to violations of safety rules by Emercom personnel, 18.3 % – for other reasons. Fire risk accounting will contribute to the calculation of forces and means to extinguish fires and their consequences, and analysis of circumstances will help to prevent deaths in fires.