RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Preventing deaths and injuries from house fires: an outcome evaluation of a community-based smoke alarm installation programme JF Injury Prevention JO Inj Prev FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 97 OP 102 DO 10.1136/injuryprev-2013-040823 VO 20 IS 2 A1 Istre, Gregory R A1 McCoy, Mary A A1 Moore, Billy J A1 Roper, Carey A1 Stephens-Stidham, Shelli A1 Barnard, Jeffrey J A1 Carlin, Debra K A1 Stowe, Martha A1 Anderson, Ron J YR 2014 UL http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/20/2/97.abstract AB Background Few studies have examined the impact of community-based smoke alarm (SA) distribution programmes on the occurrence of house fire-related deaths and injuries (HF-D/I). Objective To determine whether the rate of HF-D/I differed for programme houses that had a SA installed through a community-based programme called Operation Installation, versus non-programme houses in the same census tracts that had not received such a SA. Methods Teams of volunteers and firefighters canvassed houses in 36 high-risk target census tracts in Dallas, TX, between April 2001 and April 2011, and installed lithium-powered SAs in houses where residents were present and gave permission. We then followed incidence of HF-D/I among residents of the 8134 programme houses versus the 24 346 non-programme houses. Results After a mean of 5.2 years of follow-up, the unadjusted HF-D/I rate was 68% lower among residents of programme houses versus non-programme houses (3.1 vs 9.6 per 100 000 population, respectively; rate ratio, 0.32; 95% CI 0.10 to 0.84). Multivariate analysis including several demographic variables showed that the adjusted HF-D/I rate in programme houses was 63% lower than non-programme houses. The programme was most effective in the first 5 years after SA installation, with declining difference in rates after the 6th year, probably due to SAs becoming non-functional during that time. Conclusions This collaborative, community-based SA installation programme was effective at preventing deaths and injuries from house fires, but the duration of effectiveness was less than 10 years.