Fire-Safe Cigarette legislation
Resolution Adopted March 14, 2008 at the Oklahoma Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Tulsa Oklahoma
WHEREAS, lighted tobacco products are the leading cause of deaths in U.S. structure fires1 and the second leading cause in Oklahoma;2 and
WHEREAS, the most common human factors that contribute to the ignition of such a fire include smoking while falling asleep, being impaired by drugs, alcohol, some type of physical disability, or older age;1 and
WHEREAS, burn injuries due to cigarette-related residential fires are nearly two times more likely to be fatal than all other types of residential fire injuries;2 and
WHEREAS, despite declines in residential fires involving lighted tobacco products since 1980, which has been helped in part by a decline in the number of smokers, an increased use of smoke alarms, and improved standards and regulations regarding the ignitability of fabrics and mattresses,1 additional prevention strategies are needed; and
WHEREAS, since cigarettes have been expressly manufactured not to extinguish until totally consumed,3 the passage of a law, which requires that only "fire-safe cigarettes" be sold in Oklahoma may be effective in preventing these types of injuries; and
WHEREAS, a fire-safe cigarette has a reduced propensity to burn when left unattended;3 and
WHEREAS, fire-safe cigarettes meet an established cigarette fire safety performance standard;3 and
WHEREAS, fire-safe cigarettes are already the law in New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, California and Oregon, while 16 other states have passed legislation and nine states have filed legislation.4
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Oklahoma Public Health Association encourages the 2008 Oklahoma Legislature and organizations with the ability to stimulate change related to injury prevention through policy, advocacy and education to consider legislation/policies aimed at requiring that only cigarettes that adhere to an established fire safety performance standard be marketed and sold in Oklahoma.
References:
1. Hall, J.R. Jr. The Smoking-Material Fire Problem. Quincy, MA:
National Fire Protection Association, 2006.
2. Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health,
Burn and Smoke Inhalation Surveillance, 1988-2003.
3. Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes. What is a fire-safe cigarette? Read about it here. Accessed 13 December 2007.
4. Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes. Legislative updates. Read about it here. Accessed 13 December 2007.
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All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Education
Resolution Adopted March 14, 2008 at the Oklahoma Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Tulsa Oklahoma
WHEREAS, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are very popular in the U.S. and are commonly used for recreation; and
WHEREAS, ATVs can weigh up to 800 pounds and travel at highway speeds; and
WHEREAS, the number of injuries associated with ATVs has increased over the past several years;1 and
WHEREAS, a study of ATV traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries in Oklahoma from 1992-2002 found that the average number of injuries per year tripled over the 11-year period;2 and
WHEREAS, before 1998, there was an average of 23 injuries per year and from 2002-2003, there was an average of 69 cases per year;2 and
WHEREAS, an Oklahoma regional trauma center found that 27 percent of ATV injuries were among passengers;3 and
WEREAS, each year approximately 15 Oklahomans die as a result of an ATV crash;4 and
WHEREAS, Oklahoma law requires children younger than 18 years of age to wear a helmet while riding an ATV on public land and prohibits carrying a passenger on an ATV unless the ATV was designed to do so;5 and
WHEREAS, an ATV requires skill, strength and judgment to control; and
WHEREAS, 19 states, including Texas and New Mexico, have a law requiring that ATV operators complete a safety education course;6 and
WHEREAS, the Oklahoma State Department of Health and other medical professionals would like for children to be required to complete a safety training course
before operating ATVs;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Oklahoma Public Health Association encourages the 2008 Oklahoma Legislature and organizations with the ability to stimulate change related to injury prevention through policy, advocacy and education
to consider legislation/policies aimed at requiring completion of a safety training education class for children less than 16 years of age who operate ATVs.
References:
1. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2005 Annual Report of ATV Deaths and Injuries/Amended. Washington, DC, February 2007.
2. Brandenburg MA, Archer P, Mallonee S. All-terrain vehicle-related central nervous system injuries in Oklahoma. J Okla State Med Assoc 2005, 98, 194-199.
3. Brandenburg MA, Brown SJ, Archer P, Brandt EN. All-terrain vehicle crash factors and associated injuries in patients presenting to a regional trauma center. J Trauma 2007, 63(5), 994-999.
4. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
5. Oklahoma Statutes Title 47, Chapter 11, Section 11-1117.
6. Specialty Vehicle Institute of America. State All-Terrain Vehicle Requirements, August 2007. Available at http://www.atvsafety.org/InfoSheets/SummaryChartAugust2007.pdf. Accessed on December 13, 2007.
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