Trends in Child Fire Death Rates (2000-2009)
See also: Overall Trends | Older Adult Fire Death Trends

Overall, the trend in the fire death rate per million population for children ages 14 and under decreased 40 percent from 2000-2009. The table and chart below show this decline.

Fire Death Rates per Million Population for Children Ages 0-14 (2000-2009)

Notes: The computation of the trend is based on the simple linear regression Method of Least Squares. The numbers of fire deaths are adjusted for those deaths where age was not reported. The counts of fire deaths for the individual age categories (i.e., 0-4, 5-9, 10-14) may not sum to the total per year for the 0-14 age category due to rounding.

Sources: 1) National Center for Health Statistics. 2000-2009 Mortality Data Files, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. 2) U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1 population estimates from Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (NST-EST2009-01).

The largest decrease in the fire death rate trends for children occurred for the group of children under age 5. For these children, the fire death rate trend decreased 44 percent over the 10-year period. Children of this age group, however, still have the highest fire death rates among children of all ages and, as a result, are still at a higher risk of dying in a fire when compared to older children. The table and chart below show the decrease in the fire death rate for children ages 0 to 4.

Prior to 2005, the youngest children (ages 0-4) had fire death rates that were higher than that of the general population. Recent data indicate that the trend appears to be changing. The fire death rates of children ages 4 and younger are slightly less than that of the general population. This decline may be attributed to an increase in public fire education and prevention efforts.

Fire Death Rates per Million Population for Children Ages 0-4 (2000-2009)

Notes: The computation of the trend is based on the simple linear regression Method of Least Squares. The numbers of fire deaths are adjusted for those deaths where age was not reported.

Sources: 1) National Center for Health Statistics. 2000-2009 Mortality Data Files, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. 2) U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1 population estimates from Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (NST-EST2009-01).

The decline in the fire death rate trend for the group of children ages 5 to 9 follows closely behind that for those children ages 5 and under. For children ages 5 to 9, the fire death rate trend decreased 43 percent over the 10-year period. The table and chart below show the decrease in the fire death rate for children ages 5 to 9.

Fire Death Rates per Million Population for Children Ages 5-9 (2000-2009)

Notes: The computation of the trend is based on the simple linear regression Method of Least Squares. The numbers of fire deaths are adjusted for those deaths where age was not reported.

Sources: 1) National Center for Health Statistics. 2000-2009 Mortality Data Files, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. 2) U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1 population estimates from Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (NST-EST2009-01).

From 2000 to 2009, the fire death rate trend decreased by 33 percent for children ages 10-14. The table and chart below show the decrease in the fire death rate for children ages 10 to 14.

Fire Death Rates per Million Population for Children Ages 10-14 (2000-2009)

Notes: The computation of the trend is based on the simple linear regression Method of Least Squares. The numbers of fire deaths are adjusted for those deaths where age was not reported.

Sources: 1) National Center for Health Statistics. 2000-2009 Mortality Data Files, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. 2) U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1 population estimates from Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (NST-EST2009-01).