Victoria University researcher, Professor Dorothy Bruck is calling on all parents of children aged 5-15 to participate in groundbreaking research by setting off their smoke alarms this coming weekend.
To coincide with the 'Change your clock, change your smoke alarm battery' campaigns being run by Fire Brigades around Australia, the University has launched its Wake the Kids research project to test the effectiveness of smoke alarms.
Professor Bruck said "We want parents to set off their smoke alarm and record online at www.vu.edu.au/wakethekids, whether their kids wake up or not."
"We are calling on as many Mums and Dads as possible to participate in the project to help us understand whether or not the current smoke alarms are effective in waking children."
"Every year in Australia there are more than 10,000 house fires resulting in over 1,500 injuries. From 2001 to 2006 there were 458 recorded fatalities as a result of house fires, including the deaths of 59 people under 19 years of age [source: Australian Bureau of Statistics]."
"The scary thing is that previous studies under controlled conditions suggest that 86 percent of children will not wake up. We implore parents to get involved with this research so we can find out if these results are replicated under normal household conditions."
Professor Bruck explains: "The more people who take part, the more significant the results, which will enable us to work with the relevant authorities to develop safer solutions to protect families from the very real dangers of fire. In addition, taking part will help families know what they might expect from their children if the house catches fire while people are asleep. We find many parents are shocked to learn that their child has slept through the smoke alarm."
"Fire safety in the workplace is taken very seriously yet few people would have taken part in a 'fire drill' at home."
"Our message to parents is simple. Visit our website to read the simple instructions and when you change your battery at the end of Daylight Saving, set off your smoke alarm and record what happened on our website."
"Taking part in this research really could help to save lives as we need a large number of participants for the results to be significant."
Wake the Kids will run until Monday 14th April 2008.
The dates for the end of Daylight Saving are:
NSW, ACT, Victoria, SA, & Tasmania: night of Saturday April 5
WA: night of Saturday March 29
Queensland and NT do not have Daylight Saving
Research results will be posted on the website during May 2008.
Further information:
Professor Dorothy Bruck: Mobile: 0428 139 884; Email: Dorothy.Bruck@vu.edu.au
Media Contacts:
Ms Christine White, Media Manager,
Marketing & Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: (03) 9919 4322; mobile: 0434 602 884
