TOPEKA, Kan.- Last week, I submitted the following written testimony in support of Senate Bill 342, which was introduced before the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee by Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau of Wichita.
This bill would ban the sale of novelty lighters that resemble popular toys and entice children to play with fire, leading to deaths, injuries and property damage. Adults have sustained first-hand injuries form these lighters, too. They are manufactured haphazardly overseas, and have been subject to a multitude of recalls over the years. Other states have taken action on this, and I think Kansas should follow suit.
Testimony in Support of Senate Bill 342
Presented to the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee
by Craig Gunther, RN
January 28, 2010Senator Brungardt and members of the committee:
On behalf of the Kansas State Nurses Association, I write in strong support of SB 342. We join the chorus of groups such as the National Association of State Fire Marshals and even the Lighter Association in advocating for the prevention of adverse consequences these novelty lighters pose to the health and well being of individuals and families. A significant reduction in deaths, injury and property damage followed the Consumer Product Safety Commission's adoption of safety standards in 1994 that resulted in many lighters being manufactured as child resistant. We urge the Kansas Legislature to take action that will protect the public from the dangers of novelty lighters.
Children have a difficult time discerning novelty lighters as such because many of them are almost identical to popular toys. There are lighters that resemble cats, dogs, pigs, cell phones, guns and golf clubs to name a few examples. Ironically, there have even been lighters manufactured that resemble fire extinguishers and fire hydrants. I have observed reports of grandparents, aunts and uncles purchasing these lighters as gifts not knowing that they were flame emitting devices. Children aren't likely to explore these devices only in the home while unsupervised. Recently, it was reported that the young daughter of a Wisconsin fire marshal was surprised to learn what looked like a tape measurer emitted flames when she attempted to use it while visiting a hardware store with her father. Luckily, she wasn't hurt and the store stopped selling them thereafter. Other types of lighters that resemble toys are often within close reach to children in convenience stores, as well.
Not only are these lighters dangerous because of their deceptive appearance, but also by how haphazardly they are sometimes manufactured. The consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled thousands of them since 1996, due to their danger to public safety.
In 2006, there were 14,500 structure fires in the United States that were associated with fire play, according to the National Association of State Fire Marshals. Within this context, there were 130 deaths that year, 810 civilian injuries, and approximately $328 million dollars in annual property damage is recorded from these fires. The median age of a child who starts a play fire is five years, and the median age of children who die as a result of these fires is four. Around 42% of fires started by children are started in their bedroom, where they commonly play with toys and are less likely to be supervised.
In March of 2008, Governor John Baldacci of Maine was the first governor to sign a bill prohibiting the sale of novelty cigarette lighters, and by August that year seven other states followed. Please help add Kansas to the growing list of states that prohibit the sale of novelty lighters. This will ultimately save lives, prevent trauma and reduce property destruction while helping us send a strong message to our youth that it is not permissible to play with fire.
Sincerely,
Craig Gunther, RN
Kansas State Nurses Association
As always, I'm proud you, Craig!