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Safety With Matches and Lighters

Fires, burns and property damage associated with children playing with matches are common events in the United States and a number of programs and procedures have been developed to try to control this problem. In the past few years, a new source of ignition has become very common - the cigarette lighter.

With the increase in the use of lighters rather than matches, there follows an increase in lighter-related fires and burns associated with misuse by children. There also seems to be an alteration in the age distribution. Lighters are easier to ignite than matches, in many cases, so younger children more frequently are involved in lighter-associated fires/burns. Several reports now have implicated children as young as 18-20 months old.

Many fires have been caused by children playing with matches or lighters due to curiosity, carelessness or anger. Telling a child "Don't play with matches" may not have the desired effect, and, in fact may encourage the opposite. In some cases, children may exhibit more than just a simple interest in fire and may frequently discuss or experiment with it. Sometimes when a child has a problem with starting fires or playing with fire, the child is responding to problems in the home, at school or with peers. Fire setting problems can be prevented if identified early and the child is provided with professional counseling.

Please see our Juvenile Firesetter's page for more information about children and fire.

Studies have revealed that a majority of children possess an interest in fire and nearly half engage in fire setting behavior. Since a natural component of a childs development is a curiosity and drive to understand their world, young children often respond through exploring, experimenting and imitating the behavior of adults in their lives.

Young children should not handle matches and lighters and they should be taught that they should "tell an adult" when they find matches or lighters in their environment. They should be taught to "leave matches and lighters where they find them" and "get an adult to come back and pick them up." This avoids the problem of a child handling matches or a lighter and possibly attempting to ignite either.

Be sure the child knows that matches and lighters are tools, not toys. There are toys that look like lighters. These toys should not be given to children. Adults have been known to give a lighter that no longer works to children to play with. This should not happen since the child doesn't know the difference between a lighter that does work and one that doesn't.

Here are safety rules that adults should be aware
of concerning matches and lighters:

• Buy match books that have a striking surface on the back cover.
• Close the cover of the match book or box before striking the match.
• Only use matches or lighters when nothing else is distracting you.
• Matches or lighters are very dangerous around flammable liquids such as gasoline.
• A waste basket is not an ash tray.
• Throw a match away only after the flame is extinguished and cool to the touch.
• If lighter fluid is spilled on or near the lighter, it should be cleaned off completely before lighting the flame.

Fire Safety Information Homepage