CHILDREN'S SLEEPWEAR FLAMMABILITY CONCERNS

Recently the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children was contacted by the American Burn Association to help fight a battle on the behalf of our children. This battle concerns the Consumer Product Safety Commission's action to relax the existing children's sleepwear flammability standard. We would like to inform you of the possible danger lurking in our children's sleepwear.

Letter from the American Burn Association to Burn Centers  [ back to index ]

Date

Dear Burn Center Medical Director:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted on April 30, 1996 to relax the existing children's sleepwear flammability standard under the Flammable Fabrics Act. These relaxed standards became effective on January 1, 1997 and have the potential to increase the number of childhood injuries and deaths resulting from burns associated with children's sleepwear. The American Burn Association Burn Prevention Committee and the Safe Children's Sleepwear Coalition are asking for you help to persuade the CPSC to reverse this decision. Consumers, and many educators, are unaware of the changes and may assume the sleepwear they are purchasing remains flame resistant as it has been for 25 years. As burn care practitioners concerned with burn prevention for children, we must work together to force an immediate repeal of the relaxed standards. Please read the article "Children's Sleepwear: Relaxation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Flammability Standards" in the September/October issue of the Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation and the attached sleepwear fact sheet to understand the significance of the changes and their associated impact.

When the CPSC proposed the relaxed standards, the American Apparel Manufactures Association (AAMA) promised an extensive awareness and educational effort for consumers and sales personnel. Garments designed to be worn as sleepwear were to be identified with cautionary hangtags and neck labels. The AAMA has failed to provide this promised labeling and education.

In addition, manufacturers and retailers are having a difficult time meeting the sizing requirements for "tight-fitting" garments that are being substituted for fire retardant sleepwear. The industry has requested a 27 month extension to March 1999 to comply with the CPSC's sizing requirements for tight fitting sleepwear garments. In the meantime, our nation's children continue to be at increased risk for sleepwear related burn injuries and deaths.

You can help by contacting Commissioner Thomas Hill Moore, US CPSC, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, telephone (301) 504-0290 or fax (301) 504-0813 to voice your concern about the relaxed standards. A sample letter is enclosed, but please use your own words, citing specific examples if you have them, when writing him. Encourage other members of your burn team to participate with this effort. A member of the ABA Burn Prevention Committee will be contacting you in the next few weeks to answer any questions and encourage you to participate in the effort to repeal the relaxed sleepwear flammability standards. Representatives from the Safe Children's Sleepwear Coalition will be contacting Burn Foundations, key fire service organizations, and others who are concerned about these relaxed standards to join our efforts to encourage an immediate repeal of the relaxed standards. We must all take an active role in preventing burn injuries and deaths to children.

Sincerely,

John O. Jucan, MD Chair, ABA Burn Prevention Committee

Janet Cusick, RN Vice-chair, ABA Burn Prevention Committee

Sample Letter to CPSC  [ back to index ]

Date

The Honorable Thomas H. Moore, Commissioner
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East-West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814

Dear Commissioner Moore:

I have just recently learned of the CPSC's decision to relax the flammability standards for children's sleepwear. America's children have been protected from the risk of fire from their sleepwear for nearly twenty-five years. The decision by the Commission may put infants and children at a higher risk from burns.

Available injury and death data demonstrates that the sleepwear standard was working. There have been few injuries or deaths involving ignition of children's sleepwear since the enactment of the standard nearly twenty-five years ago. This low level of injuries and deaths can primarily be attributed to the established sleepwear standards.

It is the Commission's responsibility under the flammable Fabrics Act to protect the public against unreasonable risk of fire leading to death, injury or significant property damage. The Commission's decision to relax the sleepwear flammability standards now places infants and children at potentially higher risk for burn injury.

The CPSC had assured concerned individuals that there would be an extensive awareness and educational campaign developed and disseminated for consumers and sales personnel regarding the changes and the risk of non-flame resistant sleepwear. This lack of consumer education, as promised by the manufacturers apparel industry, makes it difficult for consumers to obtain accurate information about safe sleepwear choices. This may result in consumers making uniformed decisions which could jeopardize the well-being of their children. As a regulatory agency, the CPSC has the responsibility to provide clear, concise, accurate information to consumers. The initial requirement for clear and conspicuous warning labeling of non-flame resistant garments has also been removed from the amendments making it more difficult for consumers to differentiate between flame resistant and non-flame resistant garments at the point of sale.

As a member of the health care profession (burn team, fire service, other) who must deal with the pain, suffering and cost of burn injuries on a daily basis, I urge you to please reconsider this matter and take steps to bring back the previous standards that were clearly working to prevent death and disfigurement for numerous young children. There is no need to change what is working.

Sincerely yours,

Children's Sleepwear Flammability Fact Sheet   [ back to index ]

America's Children have been protected from the risk of burn injuries and deaths caused by ignition of their sleepwear for nearly 25 years. The recent decision by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to relax the Children's Sleepwear Flammability Standards may put infants and children at a higher risk from burns. Available injury and death data demonstrates that the sleepwear standard was working. The low level of burn injuries and deaths associated with children's sleepwear can primarily be attributed to the established sleepwear standards. Why change something that is working?

The American Burn Association adopted this position Statement Regarding Children's sleepwear Flammability Standards in March, 1997. As members of the Burn Team, please support this position.

The recent decision of the Consumer Product Safety Commission to relax its standard for flammability of children's sleepwear is disappointing and ill-conceived. This standard has proven to be effective in protecting the lives of our nation's children against clothing fires. The two-to-one decision to relax the flammability standards by the CPSC commissioners has removed or seriously reduced needed protection for a highly vulnerable group.

The previous, more stringent standards have been effective in preventing death and disfigurement for hundreds of our nation's infants and young children. The American Burn Association strongly opposes the recently relaxed standards and believes that their repeal is critical to the health and welfare of our nation's children.

Do You Know...

It is estimated there has been a tenfold decrease in the number of deaths associated with children's sleepwear since enactment of children's sleepwear standards.

The relaxed standards:

• Allow tight-fitting garments such as long underwear to be sold as sleepwear

• Allow sale of all types of non-flame resistant garments for infants aged nine months and under

Flame resistant material such as %100 polyester:

• Is resistant to ignition by small flames

• Is more difficult to ignite than untreated cotton

• Self-extinguishes after exposure to a small flame

• Shrinks away from heat sources

• Flames travel more slowly and cover a smaller area

• Upward flame spread tends to be slow, sparing the face and respiratory system

• Flame resistance does not diminish with repeated laundering

Non-flame resistant materials including untreated cotton and cotton blends:

• Ignite at a lower temperature than polyester and other flame resistant fabrics

• Continues to burn even after ignition source is removed

• Flames spread rapidly

• Flames spread upward increasing the risk of burns to the face and inhalation injury

Loose fitting garments such as oversized T-shirts

• Easily come in contact with flame source

• Loose fitting parts burn rapidly with relatively large flames
   

Alternative to Flame Resistant Sleepwear   [ back to index ]

Tight Fitting Garments, Long Underwear and Ski Pajamas

• Reduces the risk of contact with flames

• Decreases air between the garment and the child. Air is required for flaming

• Must fit tightly at wrist, ankle and waist

• Must be almost skin tight

• Must be purchased to fit the child now, not large to fit later

• Burn injuries may be less severe with tight-fitting garments than with looser fitting garments
   

What if Your Child's Clothing Catches on Fire?   [ back to index ]

• Stop, drop and Roll. All children should know how to do this. Practice with them often.

• Remove clothing from the burned area. If the material sticks to the skin, cool it, and leave it alone

• Cool the burned area for a short time with cool, not cold water. Never put ice or cold water on a burn. Ice and cold water can make the burn worse

• Cover the burn with a clean, dry cloth. Keep the child warm and calm

• Call 911 or other emergency number. Seek medical attention.

Information in this webpage has been provided by the American Burn Association and Via Christi Regional Medical Center, Wichita, KS.