Sing a Song for Safety

In my capacity as a fire and life safety educator, as well as a public information officer, I sometimes have to lobby for or promote issues that are perceived to be in the best interest of the general public.

In the United States, cigarette lighters manufactured and distributed are supposed to have child resistant features. However, there is a current trend involving the sale and purchase of “novelty lighters”. These lighters are manufactured in China and do not have child resistant mechanisms. Because they are considered “novelty” they don’t appear to be held to the same regulations.

The local Safe Kids coalition is heading up a campaign and petition to have these lighters banned from the market. The apparent danger is that these lighters often look like toys. Children and parents alike may not realize that these are actually lighters. These are so “novel” that they often look much the same as toys a child may receive in a children’s meal at a fast-food chain restaurant. Some are even the exact same chassis as a similar toy item that dispenses candy! (a cell phone design)

Sensing potential serious injury and loss of life is one of the goals and ideals of a fire and life safety educator. Looking ahead to potential issues that can cause harm is what makes us more effective and efficient. We ideally look for opportunities to be “proactive” (I hate using cliche’, but it works here). Why wait for a house to burn down, a child to be burned, or a family to be killed? We maintain that this is our responsibility to prevent.

Here is a letter recently distributed by the co-chair-people of Safe Kids, Greater Dayton:

Fellow Fire & Police Department Member: [and members of the general public]

The members of Safe Kids, Greater Dayton are concerned about the import and sale of novelty lighters that resemble toys. Today, there are lighters on the market that resemble cars, animals, and even Oreo cookies. These lighters are very attractive to children with flashing lights or sound effects. AS a group we have found no valid reason why lighters are manufactured to look like toys. It is time to take the next step to protect children from lighters that encourage curiosity, invite unintentional misuse and place them and their families at risk.

Three things you can do:

1. Post an icon on your fire department’s web site that links to this novelty lighter PSA: http://www.theideabank.com/psa/NoveltyLighters.html

2. Write a brief safety message to parents and caregivers about novelty lighters. You may use the sample letter that is provided on the above website. Give it to your community’s elementary schools for distribution.

3. Work with Safe Kids to try to ban the sale of novelty lighters. Please contact Dave Fickler or Jalynn Winland at (937) 237-3619 if you are interested in being involved with the Burn Prevention Committee to ban these novelty lighters.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Dave Fickler and Jalynn Winland
Chair-people for the Burn Prevention Committee
Safe Kids Greater Dayton

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