It is suggested that the emphasis on teaching statistics to medical undergraduates has usually been quite wrong: that the courses have become much too long, too detailed, and irrelevant to the needs of the majority. Examples are given which may help to introduce the basic concepts which all medical (and dental) undergraduates require, and which form a basis for the more traditional teaching of analytical methods to the appropriate subset who proceed to undertake medical research.

In this paper, we examine fire prevention planning in terms of analysis of population trends with regard to the area covered by Merseyside fire and rescue service in the North West of England. In particular, we present an examination of the potential impact of changing population characteristics previously identified as being associated with fire risk such as old age, living alone, behaviours and lifestyles such as smoking and alcohol consumption, and health and social care provision for the most vulnerable groups upon fire prevention strategies. Overall, the examination of the likely impact of population trends on fire risk identified the following impacts for the area covered for the fire and rescue service concerned: a likely increase in fire risk associated with the elderly and those with a long-term health problem or disability, and a likely decrease in fire risk associated with smoking and alcohol consumption, apart from alcohol consumption by the elderly. Based upon this analysis fire prevention for this area should increasingly target the elderly, the disabled and those with mental health and neurological conditions. This would be relevant to other fire and rescue services worldwide that have similar population trends that could impact fire risks, and also provide guidance for appropriate actions with regard to fire prevention.

An exploration of alcohol related fire incidences http://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/5271/ Article LJMU has developed LJMU Research Online for users to access the research output of the University more effectively. AbstractIn this paper we examine an operational research project concerning the analysis of the characteristics of alcohol related fire instances attended by a UK Fire and Rescue Service in the North West region of England and the development of a geographical information system for fire prevention support. The research project examined the circumstances of alcohol related fires, their geographical distribution and the socio-economic characteristics of such fire incidences within the region studied, and also involved the design and implementation of a geographical information system for supporting prevention of such fires. Overall, it was found that cooking fires involving 'harmful' or 'hazardous' levels of alcohol consumption were most likely to be found amongst younger urban residents living in high levels of deprivation, students living in city centre locations and young families with high benefit need within the region studied.

In this paper, we examine the process of assessing the effectiveness of fire prevention within a Fire and Rescue Service in North West England, and demonstrate how this was applied in practice. The approach to fire prevention strategy assessment included overall fire and rescue service performance, performance in relation to different population segments, cost per head performance, and multi-agency collaboration to support an effectiveness based rather than outcomes based performance assessment.

Purpose:The purpose of the research project was to examine the transformation of fire prevention processes via improved targeting of fire prevention interventions over a four year period.Design / methodology / approach: A four year case study of the transformation of fire prevention processes involving a UK fire and rescue service, local council, NHS primary care trust and a police force was undertaken.Findings: Understanding the socio-economic causal factors underlying unintentional dwelling fires, and the need to work in collaborative partnerships to achieve change in such factors can support more targeted and effective fire prevention activities.Research limitations / implications: Analysis of underlying causal factors and their relationships, together with population segmentation and working in co-ordinated collaborative partnerships can support enhanced fire risk assessment and community safety. This supported more pro-active early intervention fire risk management.Practical implications: Analysis of socio-economic causal factors, and socio-economic groups associated with unintentional dwelling fires can assist in targeting fire prevention activities in a more effective and efficient manner. This enabled the fire and rescue service to target fire prevention to social groups most at risk of dwelling fires and the types of fires (for example, kitchen fires) relevant to the different social groups. Social implications:Collaborative public sector partnerships can achieve change in the socio-economic circumstances of at-risk individuals to support fire prevention. This enables the social and health related factors underlying fire risk to be addressed by the relevant partner health or social services agencies. Originality / value:The detailed analysis of the transformation of fire prevention activities that led to an implemented approach to enhanced community safety. In particular, the analysis and evaluation of the move to collaborative multi-agency partnerships to support and improve fire prevention activities.