Healthcare Costs of Burn Patients From Homes Without Fire Sprinklers

Abstract

The treatment of burn injuries requires high-cost services for healthcare and society. Automatic fire sprinklers are a preventive measure that can decrease fire injuries, deaths, property damage and environmental toxins. This study’s aim was to conduct a cost-analysis of patients with burn or inhalation injuries due to residential fires, and to compare this to the cost of implementing residential automatic fire sprinklers. We conducted a cohort analysis of adult burn patients admitted to our provincial burn center (1995–2012). Patient demographics and injury characteristics were collected from medical records, and clinical and coroner databases. Resource costs included average cost per day at our intensive care and rehabilitation program, transportation, and property loss. During the study period there were 1,557 residential fire-related deaths province-wide and 1,139 patients were admitted to our provincial burn center due to a flame injury occurring at home. At our burn center, the average cost was CAN$84,678 per patient with a total cost of CAN$96,448,194. All resources totaled CAN$3,605,775,200. This study shows the considerable healthcare costs of burn patients from homes without fire sprinklers.

Cost Analysis of 48 Burn Patients in a Mass Casualty Explosion Treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

“…In the most recent report of Taiwan’s per capita healthcare spending, Chan stated $982 US per year was spent per patient in 2006, whereas the US per capita healthcare spending was $6,714 in the same period 22 . Because the average spending on CGMH’s mass burn patients was 50 times higher in comparison to Taiwan’s annual per capita healthcare spending amount ($50,848 vs. $982), our study reinforces previous claims that more resources should be devoted to the prevention of burn injuries 15,19,23 . The millions of dollars spent by Taiwan’s hospitals on patient care for the 499 mass burn patients from Formosa Waterpark can justify more aggressive preventive measures.…”

Comparison of causes, characteristics and consequences of residential fires in social and non-social housing dwellings in New South Wales, Australia

“…Protective measures, such as the installation of smoke alarms, have been mandated in many countries, including Australia and have been attributed to the reduction in fire incidents that require fire brigade attendance ( Ahrens, 2013 , Gilbert, 2021 , Greene and Andres, 2009 , Chubb, 2003 ). As a protective measure and its beneficial impacts, the installation of fire sprinkler systems in reducing injuries and deaths in residential fire incidents have also been demonstrated ( Garis et al, 2017 , Garis and Clare, 2013 , Wales, 2017 , Butry et al, 2007 , Butry, 2009 , Banfield et al, 2015 , Benichou et al, 1999 , Association, 2011 ).…”

Economic Costs of Residential Fires: A Systematic Review

“…Lawrence et al [44] estimated the treatment cost (USD 551 million) including costs of emergency department (around USD 32 million), and hospital inpatient/outpatient care (USD 464 million) in the USA. The costs of treatment and hospital inpatient/outpatient care were USD 6 million and USD 7 million, respectively, in Ontario, Canada [45]. In their study, Banfield et al [45] further quantified the costs of ambulance (almost USD 14,000) in Ontario, Canada.…”

“…The costs of treatment and hospital inpatient/outpatient care were USD 6 million and USD 7 million, respectively, in Ontario, Canada [45]. In their study, Banfield et al [45] further quantified the costs of ambulance (almost USD 14,000) in Ontario, Canada. In NSW, Australia, the cost of treatment was reported at USD 7 million [46] (Table 3).…”

“…The characteristics of the seven included studies are presented in Table 2. Four of the studies were conducted in the United States [18,[42][43][44], and one each in Canada [45], Australia [46], and Kuwait [47]. The review found five peer-reviewed journal articles and two organisational reports.…”